Shirley A. Elser, 85, Hartley

A Mass of Christian Burial for Shirley A. Kunkel Elser was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hartley. Fr. Tim Hogan officiated.

Pallbearers were Ted Sampson, Michael Kunkel, John Kunkel, Steven Kunkel, Justin Kunkel, Patrich Kunkel, Adam Kunkel and Parker Kunkel. Honorary pallbearers were her remaining grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Shirley Anne Kunkel Elser was born at Alton on Aug. 5, 1935, the daughter of Martin and Loretta (Konz) Klein. Shirley attended schools in Granville and Remsen, graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in 1953.

On Aug. 4, 1955, Shirley married Duane Kunkel at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen. They lived on a farm at Remsen until 1960 when they moved to a farm north of Hartley. Duane and Shirley were blessed with six children. Duane died at home on June 23, 1987.

On July 25, 1992, Shirley married Donald Elser at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hartley, adding seven step-daughters to her family. Following her marriage to Don, she moved to the Elser farm and joined St. Louis Catholic Church in Royal. Don passed away at home on Sept. 22, 2008.

In September of 2009, Shirley moved back to Hartley and lived on her own before moving to Community Memorial Health Center in January 2018. Shirley’s greatest love was spending time with her family and traveling for their celebrations. She enjoyed baking cookies and cinnamon rolls for everyone (family, neighbors, friends and auxiliary), and planning and preparing family meals. The more the merrier for Shirley! She enjoyed entertaining friends and playing cards anytime. She was delighted by her regular routine of morning coffee and Sunday night popcorn with her long time special friends.

Shirley also enjoyed working and retired from Community Memorial Health Center in 2004. She loved to serve others by being an active member of St. Joseph’s and St. Louis parishes. Shirley relied on her faith in God. She was faithful, prayerful and devoted to God. She continually prayed for her family and dear friends.

Shirley passed from this life at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at the age of 85 years, one month and 18 days.

Left to cherish her memory are her children and their families: Julie (Galen) Sampson, of Primghar; Dan (Mary) Kunkel, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Tom (Linda) Kunkel, of LeSeuer, Minn.; Randy (Debbie) Kunkel, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Phil (Mary) Kunkel, of Overland Park, Kan.; Mark Kunkel, of Balaton, Minn.; Rita Elser, of Sioux City; Marie Elser and Bob Blumenshine, of St. Louis, Mo.; Ruth (Chris) Hagedorn, of Everly; Donna (Mark) Baysinger, of Fairview, Texas; Judy (Mike) Pezzetti, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and Peggy (Scott) Johnson, of Spencer; along with 42 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild due in November; her sisters: Marlene Westphalen, Audrey Stromberg and Betty (George) Wittkop; brother-in-law: Jim Boever; sisters-in-law: Colleen Kunkel, Shirley Ellensohn, Janet (Gene) Wurth, Mary Jo (Jim) Peters and Joan Elser; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Loretta Klein; her husbands, Duane and Don; grandchildren: Johnny Cribb, Josh Yording and Evan Strom; sister, Jeannette Boever; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Mark Stromberg, Orville Kunkel, Marvin and Darlene Kunkel, Don Ellensohn, Martin Elser, and Mary Lou and David Fennessey.