Larene Joy Guest

A Life Well Lived

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Larene Joy Guest, who left us on Sunday March 30 at the age of 89. Larene was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother with a smile that would light up the room. She had a wonderful sense of humor for which anyone who knew her would testify.

Larene was born on September 1st, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa to William I Nelson and Vera Lewis Nelson. She grew up in a nurturing family environment, where she developed a keen sense of community and compassion for others. From an early age, Larene exhibited a keen interest in reading novels and in nurturing her kitties, which would go on to shape her life in profound ways.

Larene attended Des Moines Technical High School where she excelled in Secretarial courses graduating with a high school diploma and embarking on a career as a legal secretary for various law firms and insurance firms in the Des Moines and Denver areas. She worked for the FDIC in CA and then ended her career at the FDIC in Washington, DC. Over the years, Larene became known for her dedication, expertise, and professionalism.

Larene met the love of her life, Charles R. Guest and the two were married in March,1957. Together, they built a loving home and raised two beautiful girls, Valerie Elizabeth and Victoria Lynn. Larene was a devoted and caring mother, always putting family first and creating a warm, supportive environment for all. After her marriage ended, she became a

very independent soul, moving across the country to various jobs and travelling on her own to destinations throughout the country and the world.

In her free time, Larene enjoyed reading novels, watching tv travel documentaries as well as travelling the world. Whether it was travelling with her best friends to places like the Panama Canal, Scandinavian countries, Australia, and Italy. She loved going on cruises. She adored spending time with her family and friends, or simply enjoying the beauty of nature, Larene lived life to the fullest and inspired others to do the same.

Larene’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew her, but her legacy of love, kindness, and dedication will live on. She is survived by her daughters Valerie E. Goodstein (Andy) and Victoria L. Meisinger (David) as well as four wonderful grandsons of whom she was very proud. They are Matthew Goodstein (Jess), Jared Meisinger (Sona), Scott Goodstein (Kirsten), and Samuel Meisinger. She was also very proud of her only two great granddaughters, Natalie and Hailey Goodstein. Her immediate family will carry forward her memory and continue to honor her life by living with the same compassion and integrity that Larene embodied.

During her last day before passing, she gave her daughters a glimpse of heaven with her exclamations of the beauty she was seeing along with all the little children she visualized. Earlier in her life she had made her expression of faith in Jesus, giving her family the comfort in knowing her destination upon passing.

A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday April 26th, 2025, at the Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA at Chapel Hill Gardens. Friends and family are invited to come together to celebrate Larene’s life and share their cherished memories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your own local ASPCA, Animal Rescue League, or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation in Larene’s name.

Rest in peace, Larene Joy Guest. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.