Shirlee Ann (Witham) Wolfe (2012)

BONKER, NASH, RATHJEN, WITHAM, WOLFE

Posted By: JoAnne Walker
Date: 1/30/2012 at 12:39:34

Dallas County News
Adel, Iowa
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Shirlee Ann (Witham) Wolfe, of Westcliffe, CO, formerly of Waukee, IA passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the age of 66 at Swedish Memorial Hospital in Englewood, CO

Shirlee was a four-time cancer survivor whose body finally succumbed to septic shock.

Shirlee was born on December 3,1945 in Jefferson, IA, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Bonker) Witham. She was raised mostly in Madison County and graduated from Winterset High School in 1963.

On August 23, 1963 she married Leroy Charles Wolfe in Winterset, IA. Together they had two children, Denise and Brett. They lived most of their married lives in the Waukee aarea, but earlier this year had moved to the Westcliffe, CO area to pursue their life-long dream of living on a ranch in Colorado with their horses.

Shirlee was a people person and spent most of her career in some aspect of Customer Service. She also worked as a Teacher's Aid in the Van Meter school district. She also gave riding lessons to several students in the Waukee area.

Shirlee lived her life with a passion and through her battles with cancer over the last 30 years, she proved herself to be an exceptionally determined and courageous woman. Her love of horses was more than a hobby, it was a lifestyle. She enjoyed trail riding, traveling, country dancing and spending time with her grandchildren.

Shirlee was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband; daughter, Denise and husband Jeff Rathjen, grandchildren, Jason and Allison of Cedar Falls, IA; son, Brett and wife Jane, grandchildren, Alexa and Austyn Nash of Waukee, IA; brother, Kenneth Witham of Chelahis, WA; brother, Wallace Witham of Phoenix, AZ and seven nieces and nephews.

Cremation was handled by Bullock Mortuary in Englewood, CO. Celebrations of Life will be held at later dates in Iowa and Colorado. Memorial contributions will be designated at the time of those celebrations.