Shirley May Hammerstrom, age 81, of Riceville passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 8, at the Riceville United Methodist Church with Rev. Michael Carey officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in Riceville.

Shirley May Edel Hammerstrom was born on the family farm near Randalia, Iowa on May 31, 1920 to Roy and Julia Campbell Edel. She attended country school within a mile of the family farm. Shirley graduated from Randalia High School and furthered her education at Uppdr Iowa University. Her first teaching position was in a country school. From this position she moved to Burt, Iowa to teach, and met the love of her life, dear and gentle Kenneth “Chinks” Hammerstrom.

On August 3, 1947 Shirley was united in marriage to Kenneth Hammerstrom, in Randalia, Iowa, at the Randalia United Methodist Church. They established their home at Burt, Iowa.

When they moved to Riceville in 1950, Shirley took a teaching position with the Riceville Schools and continued until her retirement after 50 years of dedicated service.

After her retirement, with “Chinks” in poor health, they spent their days together. For fourteen years, Shirley and “Chinks”, and many friends and relatives enjoyed time at their cabin at Nevis, Minn.

Survivors include: a twin brother, Ralph Edel and his wife Julia of Oelwein, Iowa, and a beloved sister, Ruth Whiteford of Randalia, Iowa.

Also surviving are nephew, James Whitford and his wife TJ of Hutchinson, Kansas; niece, Lynda Modlinski of Davenport, Iowa; a great-niece, Jeri Lyn Wilson and her husband Jay of Raytown, Missouri and Ewelina Liguz of Davenport, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Dennis Hammerstrom and his wife Janice of Fargo, N.D.; a nephew, Karl Hammerstrom and his wife Jessica and their son, Owen of Minneapolis, Minn.; a niece, Sonjia Nykof and her husband Brad and daughter, Emily; and a sister-in-law, Virl Hammerstrom of Florida; and niece, Donna Kelly and husband Odis, Nancy Hammerstrom, Russell and Randy Hammerstrom and their wives.

Preceding Shirley in death were her parents, her husband Kenneth and her brother-in-law, LeRoy Whiteford.

Source: Riceville Recorder; Mar. 14, 2002 Page 9
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters