(nee Steppacher) passed away peacefully on February 19, 2016. Brenda will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her so well.
She was the beloved wife of Raymond Kirsch of St. Louis, Missouri for 56 years; mother to three children – Ray (Sheri), Rene (Robert) and Mary (Jeff); and grandmother to four grandchildren – Gabriel, Emma, Leo and Rory. She was the daughter of Val and Kathryn Steppacher and the late sister of Marilyn, Jeanine, and Carol. She was a most treasured aunt to her nieces and nephews.
Brenda had a beautiful smile and gregarious personality. If you met her once, you were a friend for a lifetime. She was courageous and unflappable – she disarmed the troubles of the world and was a rainbow in the clouds for all. She was a talented gardener, artist, and cook, and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. She loved movies and musicals.
She lived for many years with her family in south St. Louis near Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden. She loved flowers, and she enjoyed walking in the park and garden. She worked for several years at Ranken Technical College.
In mid-life, she moved with Ray to Winter Park, Colorado. They made many good friends and enjoyed greatly the life of the mountains, including hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and traveling to Taos and Sante Fe, New Mexico. She renewed her interest in watercolors and shared her beautiful paintings with family and friends. She worked for many years at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and was affectionately known throughout the valley.
The family expresses their gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Barnes-Jewish Hospital for their care of Brenda. In accordance with her wishes, her body will be cremated. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring of 2016.
To quote Brenda, you can’t have everything, but everything will work out; it always does. Feel us hugging you right back.