Lori Jean Kirschbaum
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Our beautiful Mom, Lori Jean Kirschbaum (Ficken), 65, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 3:05 a.m. at Dubuque Specialty Care Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Lori was born on November 24, 1959, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter to Alan and Barbara Smith (Graham). This is where she grew up, lived majority of her life, went to school, and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1978. Years later, she attended Marshalltown Community College studying Nursing and Humanities. Lori was very fluent in Spanish at an advanced level and used her interpreter skills to provide assistance in her community. Formerly, she lived in Melbourne, Iowa, for a short time.
Lori was united with the love of her life, Todd Kirschbaum in 2003 and they married on August 2, 2006, living life in rural Beaman, Iowa, to the fullest with love, laughter, friends, and family until Todd’s passing on March 4, 2013, succumbing to symptoms related to his Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
In all things Lori did, she said her rosary, a quiet testament to her unwavering faith. She said all she wanted was to make sure that she gave us purpose. One of Lori’s biggest accomplishments and joys in her life was becoming a devoted Grandmother spending many countless hours talking about and playing with her many grandchildren whom she absolutely adored and loved with all of her heart. Lori would always have grandchildren spending the night at their house and she was always seen wearing an apron to bake food, do arts and crafts, spend hours outdoors in the garden, loved being on the tractor when on the farm, playing sports, and video games as well as RockBand, singing and dancing, swimming, shopping, watching movies and cartoons, going to the library, and playing with her beloved dogs, Remi, Baxter, CeCe Rider, and Hera. Lori was a very passionate and devoted lifelong Green Bay Packer football fan never missing a game (literally!) She also enjoyed visits with her good friends drinking coffee while having long talks discussing past times and the future.
Lori loved working as a Mental Health Peer Support Specialist with the Mid-Iowa Triumph Recovery Center. She had a diverse career and volunteer history, very well known for being a strong advocate for human rights and social change that became a part of who she was and what she stood for. She strongly supported and advocated for domestic violence survivors. She spent many hours assisting those in need in her community in so many aspects of life proudly working as an Iowa Homeless and Housing Coalition Tenant Organizer that led to a job position offered to her in Washington, D.C., however, she stayed in Iowa to prioritize raising her children in their hometown. She continued to work in different job roles within her community working for the Census Bureau as a Census Enumerator, involved in several programs through Mid Iowa Community Action, serving on different committees also writing papers to secure grant money for MICA and helped develop the W.O.M.E.N program (Women Obtaining and Maintaining an Exciting New life), which this name later changed. Lori enjoyed being involved in politics by volunteering during the Iowa Caucus serving as a Delegate.
Lori had a deep passion for music and loved being a band member as one of the alternative rock genre’ singer/songwriter in the band Dascuri for many years (1987-1992) releasing albums with some of her best friends. Also, collaborating, composing, and performing music with DJB Enterprises, Inc (1992-2000). She assisted with secretarial duties as well.
Those left behind to cherish Lori’s memory include,
her three children,
Daughter, Andrea (Nicholas) Davis of Maquoketa, IA.,
Daughter, Mistrey (Mike) Beach of Gladbrook, IA.,
and Son, Michael Ficken of Marshalltown, IA;
her step-son,
Damon (Samantha) Kirschbaum of Houston, TX;
her grandbabies,
Mason, Maddisyn, Jaycob, Blake, Raven, Deja, Braiden, Kaylee, Ethan, Owen,
Aliyah, and Adriana;
her siblings,
sister, Pam Pilkington,
and brother, Brad Smith & sister-in-law Mitzi (Meredith) Smith;
along with extended family including many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Lori has always said, “I’ve loved my children and grandchildren more than life or myself!” She reminded her family daily to always have courage and be kind. Lori loved to love people! She has too many favorite staff to list that took amazing care of her, but she found each of them to be extended family and in the same they loved her calling her Mom and Grandma. She said she would always leave apart of herself behind to cherish, she just wanted to be remembered.
Lori had some favorite quotes she would say…
“ I don’t wanna get rich- just live good!” & “ People in hell want ice water, that don’t mean they get it!” -Patsy Cline
“Don’t be like the rest of them darling!” & “In order to be irreplaceable one must be different!” -Coco Chanel
The family wishes to extend a special thanks for the compassionate care provided by all of the Doctors, Nurses, CMAs, CNAs, and staff at Dubuque Specialty Care, Care Initiatives Hospice, MercyOne Hospital, ER, ICU, and Medical floor for their kindness, patience, and time spent with her. We know there were many that spent countless hours talking with her, holding her hand, and making her feel so loved. Lastly, our family humbly extends gratitude and respect to Tri-State Cremation Center for all they do and their care for Lori.
In keeping Lori’s heartfelt wish, she will be cremated. A small private celebration of life for immediate family will be held on August 25, 2025, honoring her with their stories, laughter, and love. In accordance with each Lori and her late husband Todd, it was in their final wishes that family gather and reunite their ashes together as we know they’ve dearly missed each other. This sacred reunion is long awaited for them to be rejoined in eternal peace and love.
A memorial service for Lori’s life will be open to extended family, friends, and all who loved her, announcement at a later date. Apologies to anyone that has reached out and did not receive a response concerning Lori’s arrangements, as we have had some emergent family circumstances that caused delays.
In lieu of flowers, the family is graciously requesting donations be made to a GoFundMe page in honor of Lori Jean Kirschbaum’s memory, this will help cover expenses related to her unexpected death as she did not have a will or funds for cremation costs. Any additional funds left after cremations costs will be directed towards her Memorial service at a later date.
Please find her GoFundMe page @
Online condolences may be shared with Lori’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com
A private family Celebration of Life is being held.
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