GUTHART, Shirley Ann (Ellefson) 1931-2017

GUTHART, ELLEFSON, FLACK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/11/2017 at 10:49:45

Shirley Guthart

Birth: October 19, 1931
Death: January 9, 2017

Service Date: Friday, January 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., Messiah Lutheran Church

Shirley Ann Ellefson Guthart, age 85, passed away January 9, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City.

A memorial service for Shirley will be on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City with Pastor Jane Keel officiating.

Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Per her wishes, a private family inurnment will take place at a later date.

Shirley Ann was born to Sigvart and Orpha (Flack) Ellefson on October 19, 1931 at Waterville, Iowa. She grew up in Osage and attended Osage schools. She fell in love with Jack Guthart and married him in 1949 and became the loving and devoted mother of John, Vicky and Danny. She raised her family and also devoted her time to the family businesses, Southside Grocery and also the A&W Drive-In Restaurant, where all the kids of Charles City loved to hang-out and dance to the local and well-known bands that were invited on the roof of the A&W, much to everyone's enjoyment.

She also worked as a pictorial director calling on churches all around the state of Iowa. Later in life, she studied for and received her real estate license and worked for Welton Real Estate in Charles City. She volunteered her time to the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society, and also served as past president of the Jaycee wives.

Shirley was an avid golfer in her younger years and enjoyed playing with her husband, Jack and all their friends at the Charles City Country Club. She was an excellent card player and in later years enjoyed bridge with two different groups of ladies. She excelled at everything she did and most often got "high" in bridge, which really tickled her! She was a very talented lady who sewed her daughter's clothes when she was in school and created many beautiful stained glass pieces for family and friends. Shirley was a very loving, giving, and caring person and would help anyone solve a problem if she could. She possessed an excellent sense of humor and shared many laughs with those that were fortunate enough to enjoy her company.

She was a wonderful homemaker, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and will be deeply missed by all. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack in 1999; granddaughter, Tiffany Turpen in 2001; and her beloved sister, Gloria Skuster in 2011.

Living family members include her children: John (Chris) Guthart of Charles City, Vicky (Mark) Holler of Estes Park, Colorado and Danny of Charles City; adored grandchildren: Tiffany Turpen (deceased) and Richard Turpen, Natalie (Nathon) Salinas of Charles City, Zak Marshall, Trevor (Kyndra) Holler and Kali Holler (Brent) all of Colorado and Shay Guthart of Rochester, Minnesota. She loved spending time with her great-grandchildren as well: Austin Turpen of Iowa City, Sarah Kate Turpen, Dylan Salinas, Evan Salinas all of Charles City, Taylor Marshall and Zoe Mae Holler both of Colorado; along with many nieces and nephews.

Source: Hauser Funeral Home website