In Loving Memory
Shirley Lee

VISITATION
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Ruthven, Iowa

SERVICE
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
10:30 A.M.
United Methodist Church
Ruthven, Iowa

CLERGY
Rev. Kris Hackbart

INURNMENT
Crown Hill Cemetery
Ruthven, Iowa

Shirley Ann (Schnell) Lee, daughter of Asa and Iona (Thau) Schnell was born June 2, 1929 in Clay County, Iowa, southwest of Ruthven, Iowa. She received her education at Clay Co. Freeman and Wild Rose Country Schools and Ruthven High School graduating in 1947.

On July 4, 1947, Shirley was united in marriage to Eldon "Curly" Lee in Jackson, Minnesota. To this union, two children were born. Curly and Shirley lived in Spencer, Iowa, rural Dickens and Storm Lake, Iowa prior to moving to the farm southeast of Ruthven in 1954 and to her current home in Ruthven in 1976. Shirley helped with the farm work and worked part time at Wigdahl Hardware for many years. On April 1, 1965, she started as the receptionist/secretary for L.W. Nitchals Law Office which became Winkel, Nitchals, Winkel and presently Winkel & Holmes, PLC. She recently started her 53rd year with the law firm.

Shirley was a devoted member of the Ruthven United Methodist Church, active in church circles and United Methodist Women. You could often find her baking for and helping with church events and funerals. She was also active in the Ruthven American Legion Auxiliary and Jazzy Jewels Red Hats.

Shirley spent countless hours in her beautiful large flower garden and proudly mowing her yard as recently as this spring. Curly and Shirley became avid ISU women's basketball fans when Coach Fennelly came to Ames. They had season tickets for many years, often taking cookies for the team to enjoy. It made her day when she was invited to go with friends after Curly passed.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She provided "private" vacations so she could spend one-on-one time with her grandchildren.

Shirley passed away on July 15, 2017 at the Ruthven Community Care Center under Hospice Care at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 60 years, Eldon; a son Robert; brothers and sisters-in-law, Pat Schnell, Laurene (Lawrence) Olberding, Marie (Donald) Robertson, Leonard (Eloise and Margaret) Lee, and Lawrence Lee, and Darlene Dettling.

She is survived by her daughter Karen (Roger) Fread of New Sharon, Iowa, granddaughter Regina (Maury) Anderson of Cedar Rapids; grandsons Brian (Amy) Fread of Clear Lake; Michael (Amanda) Lee of Black Hawk, SD and Jon (friend Dawn) of Rapid City, SD; great-grandchildren, Rowan and Ashlyn Fread, Isaac and Jillian Anderson, and Hunter and Lizah Lee.

Also surviving is a brother Paul Schnell of Ruthven, daughter-in-law Rose Lee of Huron, SD; step grandchildren Adam (Kristin) Haar of Johnston and Erin (Todd) Reinders of Granger; and step-great-grandchildren Bronwyn Haar and Keeley, Brinnan and Kanaan Reinders; sister-in-law Marlys Lee of Ruthven; brother-in-law James Dettling of Plum City, Wisconsin, and god-daughter, Sheila Grange of Newton, New Jersey; as well as many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home