Torrington, WY (Colyer Funeral Home) January 25th, 2024 –Memorial services for SHELLY KAYE KIRCHHEFER, 62, will be held 10am Saturday February 10, 2024, at the Goshen County Rendezvous Center with Reverend Matt Gordon officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. A reception will follow burial.
Shelly passed away January 17, 2024, at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne and cremation has taken place. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Shelly Kaye Kirchhefer, 62 passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She was born on August 17, 1961 in Denver, Colorado, daughter of Fred & Shannon Fenimore. In Shelly’s early years, she lived in Denver, CO and Cheyenne, WY. Her family then relocated to Torrington, WY, where she grew up with her younger brother Brian. Shelly was an active child, always surrounded by friends, and enjoyed activities such as bowling, sledding, ice skating, swimming, and Brownies-Bluebirds.
During high school, Shelly participated in all school sports and worked at the local tree farm and swimming pool. Shelly graduated from Torrington High School in 1979.
After graduation Shelly ventured back to Colorado for a time and then to Nebraska. She worked as a swimming pool lifeguard and had experience with waitressing, secretarial administration, and emergency dispatching.
Shelly was blessed with two daughters, Shauna, and Andrea, with her first husband, Delwin Watson, while living in Lingle, WY. Spending time with family and helping others was Shelly’s passion. She spent much of her time supporting her children in their activities and worked many part time jobs such as childcare and school cook. Shelly managed the Lingle swimming pool in the summers and both her daughters got to work alongside her.
Shelly’s passion for helping people lead her to 29 years of service in emergency management and 10 years as a volunteer firefighter. She began her career in 1993, in Lingle and in May of 1999, she transferred to Goshen County Emergency Management where she filled many roles, including working with U.S. Homeland Security, local emergency response, statewide training and storm chasing. She was a mentor to many and known across the state for her dedication and selfless service.
Shelly married her soul mate, Gary Kirchhefer on May 5, 2006. Together they enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, Jeeping, and shopping. Both were employed with the Sheriff’s department and volunteered together at the Yoder Fire Department. This gave them ample opportunities to share another passion, storm chasing. Tracking dangerous weather was serious work but also exciting and a rewarding challenge.
If she wasn’t managing crisis situations, training for worst case scenarios or out in severe weather she would enjoy relaxing with her pets, painting and attending her grandkids activities. She loved being her grandkids “Mema”.
Early retirement from the job she loved came when she was diagnosed with lung & brain cancer in December 2020. Through long ongoing treatments she battled through this storm to be with her loved ones an extra three years.
Shelly is survived by her husband, Gary Kirchhefer; mother, Shannon Fenimore; brother Brian (Amy) Fenimore; daughter, Shauna (Daryl) Wunder; daughter Andrea (Justin) Smith; stepdaughter Joylene (Brent) Anderson; stepson Gary (Windy) Kirchhefer II and her grandchildren Skyla, Shaylyn, Daryn, McKenzie, McKayla, Caleb, Abigail, Faith, Skyler, Cole, and Joshua. She also had 3 great grandchildren. Niece; Jordyn and nephew; Zachary.
Shelly was preceded in death by her father Fred Fenimore, grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to Gracie’s Promise.
Ila Lorene (Kaufman) Zimmer, 97, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. She now rests in the arms of her dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ila was born to Conrad and Marie (Hoff) Kaufman at home in a blizzard on December 10, 1926 in Huntley, Wyoming. Her education began there where she walked or rode her pony daily one mile each way to school. The family moved to Hawk Springs when her father purchased the Indian Meadows Ranch when she was ten years old. Besides school, her early life included working with her family raising turkeys and in the sugar beet fields. She graduated from Huntley High School in 1944 with honors as Valedictorian of her class.
Upon graduation she moved to Denver, Colorado and attended Barnes Business College. She worked for the Wyoming Rationing Board in Cheyenne. Returning to Torrington, Ila was employed as a legal secretary for Sawyer & Sawyer Law firm.
On July 21, 1946 she married the love of her life, Russell W. Zimmer in Torrington and they lived together for 77 years. She continued working in the law office until 1949 when her first daughter, Vickie was born. Vickie was followed by Joanie, Marcia, and Mary who have all given Ila and Russ the greatest joy of their lives. Ila was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, homemaker and cook, providing direction and guidance to her family in a myriad of ways.
Russell was elected to the Wyoming State Legislature in 1973 as the Representative from Goshen County. Ila enjoyed 20 years of supporting her husband in his political career where he concluded as President of the Wyoming Senate. They were blessed to be able to have many trips and vacations together traveling to many places in Europe, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, South America and China. One of their goals was to visit the 50 United State capitals and take pictures of the State buildings. This they completed together.
She was a baptized and confirmed member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and served in many positions. For many years she was a member of Goshen County Republican Women and as a precinct committee woman.
Ila is survived by husband, Russell, and her daughters, Vickie (Michael Bond), Marcia Ward, and Mary Viktorin; her grandsons, Landon and Shane Viktorin, and Passion (Jaimie) and Zenith (Lisa) Ward; and her great-grand children Dannica and Jaxon Ward, and Noah and Jonah Ward. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Joanie Lynn, her brother, Howard Kaufman and sister-in-law Dolores, sons-in-laws Terry Viktorin and Edwin Ward.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday February 3, 2024 at 10 AM at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Torrington with Rev. Scott Firminac officiating. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home on Friday February 2, 2024 from 3 to 5 PM.
Memorial contributions may be sent in her name to the Goshen County Historical Society.
Funeral mass for RODNEY ANTHONY BREMER, 79, will be held 10:30am Friday January 26, 2024, at Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Mitchell, Nebraska with Father Stephen Deaver officiating.
Rodney passed away January 13, 2024, at his home and cremation has taken place. A rosary will be recited at 10am before the mass. Memorials can be made to Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Rodney’s name. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Rodney was born May 29, 1944, in Nebraska City, Nebraska to Arnold and Helen Bremer. He grew up on his family’s farm in Palmyra, Nebraska. In 1962 he graduated from the Palmyra High School. Shortly after graduation he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. During his time in the national guard, he married his high school sweetheart Helen Wachter on April 23, 1966. To this union they had three children Doug, Steve and Kristin. He retired from Tri-State G&T in Montrose, Colorado in 2004 and then moved to Wyoming. Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also participated in Cowboy Action Shooting. He was very active in his church and a man of deep faith. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling with his wife Helen.
He is survived by his wife Helen, Children; Doug (Heidi) Bremer, Steve (Michelle) Bremer and Kristin (Cary) Heath. Grandchildren; Shiloh, Kincade, Kylie, Kamryn, Logan, Rachel and Brandon. Sister Mary Kuntz and Brother Duane Bremer. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother Gerald.
