Kelly J. Kershisnik ’87
Source: https://www.thedavisfuneralhome.com/home/obit/11941
Kelly Jo Kershisnik, 61, of Riverton, Wyoming, passed away at her home on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Kelly Jo Gamble was born on April 22, 1965, in Laramie, Wyoming, to James Michael “Mickey” Gamble and Mathilde Steindorfer Gamble. She spent her childhood in Rawlins, Torrington and Riverton where she graduated from Riverton High School with the Class of 1983.
Kelly attended Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She furthered her education through studies in Women’s International Studies and later earned her Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Wyoming.
Following her education, Kelly began her professional career on the East Coast as a commercial real estate broker in New York, a city and region she dearly loved. Her passion for politics and public service led her to work at the United States Embassy in Bonn, Germany. She later served Wyoming through her work for U.S. Senators Malcolm Wallop, Craig Thomas, and John Barrasso. Kelly thoroughly enjoyed political work, serving the people of Wyoming, and the opportunities to live and work in Washington, D.C and abroad.
After her years in public service, Kelly returned home to Riverton to help care for her beloved grandparents, Wes and Eleanor Gamble. During that time, she met the love of her life, Kevin Kershisnik. The couple was married on October 8, 2006, at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jackson, Wyoming. A wonderful reception, which the family refers to as Mickey’s party, followed at Spring Creek Ranch, surrounded by family and friends.
Kelly embraced life with enthusiasm, elegance, and adventure. She loved international travel and treasured numerous trips to Austria and throughout Europe while visiting relatives. She especially enjoyed the culture, history, and sophistication of international travel. Alongside Kevin, she attended special events across the North America, a private tour and dinner at Versailles, France, the world’s largest tradeshow in Hanover Germany, custom tours of Italy, a memorable trip to Brazil, and other destinations through Kevin’s work. Kelly loved international travel.
Closer to home, Kelly loved spending time in Wyoming’s mountains with family and friends. Four-wheeling, snowmobiling, and making memories in the Jackson and Pinedale areas brought her great joy. She delighted in entertaining, helping others, and attending English high teas with everyone from her very young nieces to her mature father-in-law, and dressing to the nines—often with a touch of flair and elegance that reflected her vibrant personality.
Kelly’s life, like all lives, included seasons of hardship. She faced personal struggles and later endured significant health challenges, including strokes and a brain bleed, which altered the pace of her days. Yet even in these quieter, more difficult chapters, she carried herself with gentleness and dignity. Her warmth, her commitments, and her love for her family remained steadfast, revealing a quiet resilience that those closest to her will always remember.
Raised in the Catholic faith, Kelly remained spiritual throughout her life and would attend mass with her husband and family. As a young child, she was bilingual in German and English, a reflection of her family’s rich heritage and international connections.
Kelly is survived by her loving husband, Kevin Kershisnik of Riverton; stepdaughter, Jocelin Marie Kershisnik of Albuquerque, New Mexico; mother, Mathilde Stiedendorfer Gamble; mother-in-law, Janet Anne Kershisnik; sister, Liesl Gamble Scott and husband Jeff, and their daughter, Annaliese; nephew, Nicholas James Gamble, son of her late sister, Kimmy Gamble; sister-in-law, Kateri Schimbke and husband Paul, and their children, Samantha and William; sister-in-law, Kellie Milbrandt and husband Dave, and their son, Maxwell; brother-in-law, Kohl Kershisnik and wife Becky, and their children, Meredith and Collin; as well as numerous extended family members and friends in Wyoming, across the United States, and abroad.
She was preceded in death by her father, Mickey Gamble; grandparents, Wes and Eleanor Gamble; sister, Kimmy Gamble; father-in-law, Max Kershisnik; and other beloved relatives.
Kelly will be remembered for her intelligence, elegance, leadership, love of family, and her remarkable ability to make every occasion special. Her warmth, kindness, and vibrant personality touched many lives and will be deeply missed.