Christianson, Shirley Ann (1937-2019)

CHRISTIANSON, HIGLEY, SHIRLEY, MESSERSCHMIDT, SOENER, RUNDE, BANKS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/21/2019 at 15:08:20

Shirley Ann Christianson
August 31, 1937 ~ September 16, 2019

Shirley Christianson, 82, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Monday, September 16, 2019, at her home.

Shirley Ann Christianson was born on August 31, 1937, to Harley and Phyllis (Shirley) Higley. After a short game of cat and mouse between them, Shirley and Bennie Christianson began dating and fell in love. They married on June 28, 1959, in Estherville, Iowa, and soon thereafter, they were blessed with three beautiful (but at times obnoxious) children: Lori, Michael, and David.

Together, Shirley and Bennie farmed for several years near Emmetsburg before moving over to the Joice area where they continued to farm. Shirley spent her time ensuring that all the operations at the Christianson household ran smoothly and efficiently, but that she still had time to enjoy her hobbies. An avid quilter, a baker of the finest chocolate chip cookies this world has seen, an active member in her church circle, and a voracious reader, she would, enthusiastically, watch her favorite sports teams: the Twins, the Vikings, and the Cyclones. (She liked the Hawkeyes too, but she wouldn’t want us to talk about that too much.) Above all, however, she adored her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, immensely proud of each and every one of them, and she cherished spending time with them whenever she had the chance.

Forever a lover and a pursuer of education, Shirley attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, to become a teacher. She taught school in Sac City and in Northwood, Iowa, where she was surely beloved by all students. Later in life, she would use her grammar skills as an editor and proofreader at Stoyles Graphic Services. (These skills became transferrable as she needed them down the road to help her children and grandchildren write coherent essays.) In addition, as a club leader, she provided her expertise to the Worth County 4-H program. Indeed, as a jack of all trades, her knowledge never failed to help those around her.

Her survivors include her three children: Lori, Michael (Lisa), and David (Codi) Christianson; her six wonderful grandchildren: Drew (Mandy) and Kristin Messerschmidt; Ivy (Paul Soener) and Emma (Tim Runde) Christianson, Tuff (Brennan Banks) Christianson, and Colt (Shayla) Christianson; three great-grandchildren: Auron, Isley, and Hattie; and her brother and sister-in-law, Carroll and Mary Christianson; as well as several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bennie, in 2014; a sister, Mary Brown, and her children, Holly and Eric Brown.

Memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 20, 2019, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 201 Franke Street, Joice, Iowa 50446, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. A memorial visitation is scheduled from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Friday, at the church in Joice. Inurnment will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville, Iowa. Shirley’s family suggests memorials be made to the local Food Bank at 40029 210th Avenue, Lake Mills, Iowa 50450.

Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, Iowa, 2019.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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