Shirley Darlene Straate

Shirley D. Straate, 83, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, June 28, 2014, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 1st, at 1:30 PM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 11:30 AM until the time of service on Tuesday at the church.

Shirley Darlene (Huffman) Straate was born December 28, 1930 in Rossville, IA. She was the youngest of six children born to Lee and Gladys (Leas) Huffman. She attended the Jefferson #6 school at Rossville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1948. Following her schooling she worked as a secretary. On November 21, 1952 she married Harry Edward Straate at the Rossville Presbyterian Church. Shirley and Harry farmed together for many years. She was a stay at home mom but always busy with caring for the children, helping with things on the farm, and raising a big garden which she loved to share produce from.

Shirley was a member of Zion United Church of Christ. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards and took in a lot of ball games when the kids were growing up. After moving to Waukon she looked forward to her morning and afternoon coffee breaks with friends.

Survivors include her 3 children: Daniel (Jody) Straate of Waukon, Russell (Diana) Straate of Corcoran, MN, and Ellen (Jim) Toomsen of Ackley, IA; 2 grandsons: Samuel and Matthew Straate; a step-granddaughter Cassandra (Noah) Daley; a great-grandchild Peyton Jo Daley; a sister June Serbousek of Anamosa, IA, and a brother Francis Huffman of Marion, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry who died in 2003, 3 sisters: Neva Mead, Imogene Montour, and Betty Everman; 4 brothers-in-law: Joe Mead, Harvey Montour, Leonard Serbousek, and Harold Everman; a sister-in-law Orpha "Peg" Huffman; and a niece and a nephew.

Casketbearers are Mike Mead, Alan Serbousek, Steve and Dean Montour, and Troy and Craig Everman.