Laurel Kirstein, 85, of Clarion passed away Friday, March 24, 2006 at USA Healthcare Center in Clarion. Laurel (Cole) Kirstein was born on April 4, 1920. In Dundee, Iowa. Laurel was the middle of three children born to Ernest and Mary (Phelps) Cole. She has an older brother, Laurence, and a younger sister, Lorraine. Laurel was raised in the LaPorte City, Iowa area during the Great Depression. Many memories of those hard times were shared with her family throughout the years. Following graduation from LaPorte City High School in 1938, Laurel worked for a time as a maid in Waterloo, Iowa and during a visit with her brother, Laurence, in Clarion, she met and later married Robert Kirstein. Bob and Laurel were married on April 19, 1941. To the union were born five children: Mildred, Karole Ann, Randall, Philip, and Paul. Bob and Laurel farmed south of Clarion all their married life. Laurel loved to cook, garden, crochet, sew, weave rugs, and paint. Laurel was instrumental in getting the four way stop light installed five miles south on R-38. She also was the winner of the contest for naming the roller rink in Clarion – Spinning Wheels. At one time Laurel taught adult reading in her home. Bob and Laurel moved into Clarion in 1987. Following Bob's death in 1988, Laurel moved to Southtown and later the USA Healthcare Center where she lived at the time of her death on March 24, 2006. Laurel was a member of the United Methodist Church and will be remembered by all who knew her as a dedicated patriot. Left to cherish her memory are her children Mildred (Dale) Hoyd of Boise, Idaho; Philip (Judy) Kirstein and Paul (Pat) Kirstein of Clarion; a sister Lorraine Merryfield of Des Moines, and a dear niece Linda Vanderlinden of Des Moines. Laurel is also survived by seven grandsons: Kendall (Sharon) Hoyd, and Bradley Hoyd of Boise, Idaho; Eric (Martina) Hoyd of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, Kent (Kelly) Kirstein and Dean (Abby) Kirstein of Clarion, Cole Kirstein of Ankeny, Troy Sheffield of Belmond; and three granddaughters; Jennifer (fiancé, Chris Taranto) Kirstein of Paso Robles, CA, Jill Kirstein of Ventura, CA, Kim (Troy) Kilzer of Ames, two step grandchildren, Nicole (Jerrad) Tausz and Aimee Assink of Kansas City, MS. She also has eight great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Bob; daughter, Karole Ann; son Randy; granddaughter, Laurie; daughter-in-law, Marlene, her brother, Laurence; and niece, Janet Cohoon.