Richard Alan Marsh

Richard Alan Marsh died on Sunday, October 29, 2023. He was 70 years old. Rich was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on November 27, 1952 to Marion Robert & Aletha Yvonne (Nitzel) Marsh. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1975 and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1979. After graduation he began practicing law in Chicago with Schumacher, Jones, Vallely, Kelly, Olson and Pusch.

While in Chicago he met the love of his life, Reverend Doctor Kay Palmer Marsh, and they were married on August 21, 1982 in the Chicago Loop at the First United Methodist Church’s Chapel in the Sky. They moved to Colorado in 1984 where they welcomed their daughters, Alexa and Madelyn.

In Denver, while a partner at Grant, McHendrie, Haines, and Couse, he was recognized as an AV Preeminent – Peer Rated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell. In 1995 Kay was appointed to southeast Colorado to serve the United Methodist Churches in Eads and Haswell. In Eads, Rich established a satellite law practice while maintaining his practice in Denver. In addition to his law practice, he served as Eads Municipal Judge. Kay was then appointed to Rinn United Methodist Church near Longmont, CO in 1998. Rich practiced law in Longmont, eventually establishing Marsh Law PC. He practiced for 25 years in and around Longmont until his death.

In 2006, Rich was appointed by Bishop Brown to serve as the Chancellor for the Bishop of the United Methodist Church’s Mountain Sky Conference. He served in this role through three Bishops, over 17 years. One of his proudest achievements was his successful defense of the election, consecration, and assignment of Bishop Karen Oliveto before the judicial council of the United Methodist Church. He also helped guide the church through a variety of significant structural changes.

He enjoyed playing keyboard or drums in a variety of musical groups, traveling the world to visit family and friends, his menagerie of pets, and helping people through his law practice and philanthropy. He served in leadership positions for many organizations and boards including Northern Colorado YMCA, Carbon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kiowa County Chamber of Commerce, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Keep the Lights Foundation of Denver, St. Vrain Rotary Club, University of Colorado Parents Association, Centennial State Ballet, Longmont Area Democratic Party, and the Boulder County Democratic Party.

Rich is survived by his wife (Kay), two daughters and their husbands (Alexa & Mark Larson, Madelyn & Patrick Baber), grandson (Gavin), siblings (Diane Beach & Thomas Marsh), and beloved extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kay’s parents, and his brother-in-law, Alan Beach.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 11:00 am at the Heart of Longmont United Methodist Church, 350 11th Ave, Longmont, CO. Following the service everyone is invited to a reception at the Fox Hill Club from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, 1400 CO 119. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the YMCA of Northern Colorado (ymcanoco.org); the Reconciling Ministries Network (rmnnet.org); Heart of Longmont United Methodist Church (heartoflongmont.org); or Longs Peak Hospital Foundation (longspeakhospitalfoundation.org).