March 22, 1940 - July 29, 2024
Martin James Kirsch, "Marty", age 84, of Richfield, passed away July 29, 2024. Born March 1940 in Bertha, MN to Rev. Martin G. and Myrtle (Naslund) Kirsch. He attended Concordia College, the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis School of Drafting. He had a long and successful career with the Donaldson Company, retiring after 45 years as a Printing and Duplicating Supervisor. Marty was elected to the Richfield City Council from 1982-199 and as Mayor from 1991-2007. He was active in other community organizations as a member of the Richfield Historical Society and the Optimist Club. He was President of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Gretchen Buss and an infant sister, Alice. He is survived by nephew, Daryl Buss (Jennifer), and their daughters, Eliya and Hannah Buss; brother-in-law, Duane Buss; God-son, Michael Champion and other relatives and many friends.
Family, friends, and supporters will undoubtedly continue to stop to visit Mayor Kirsch's sit-by-me statue placed by the city in 2007 on Lyndale Avenue South.
Memorials to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church or the Richfield Historical Society.
Visitation
Monday, August 5, 2024
5:30PM - 7:00PM
Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel
6527 Portland Avenue South
Richfield, MN 55423
Funeral Service
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
11:00AM
Visitation 1 hour prior
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
6541 16th Avenue South
Richfield, MN 55423
Interment
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
2:30PM
Maple Lawn Cemetery
1917 4Th Street
Faribault, Minnesota 55021
Lois and I regret that we cannot be in the Twin Cities for Marty’s funeral. We remember him for his dedication to the city we love, and I, as also a former mayor, recall the many ways in which he served both on the city council with me and in myriad other ways. We extend our condolences and our gratitude for his presence among us.
Marty was to us a friend, Although we didn’t know him well; No Christmas card came near the end, A clue as to his health foretell. At Donaldson worked with my mom, Just 10 years of his 45; And Mayor 16 years aplomb, 3 decades aft my dad’s emprise. A leader in his Lutheran kirk, Much like my father at St. Nicks; His Lyndale clone a classic work — That’s Marty Kirsch quite realist. A man that gave more than he got, History, Optimist, Council; We need more men like him a lot, More people with his people skills.
When Marty was mayor you knew he deeply cared about Richfield and was truly a man of service. When I was the director of Wood Lake, Marty came to every event and was there to support, never to judge. Marty devoted his life to Richfield but knew how to have fun too with his good friends especially Cynthy Mandl who introduced him to the wonders of Costa Rica and supported the relationship with Richfield and the Costa Rican town of Heredia. Marty was a simple, gentle man of great stature and will be missed by those lucky enough to have known him