FOSSEY, Shirley Alice (Kleinwort) 1919-2001

FOSSEY, KLEINWORT, LUBIENS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/7/2009 at 19:54:12

#1:

Shirley A. Fossey

Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar for Shirley Alice Fossey, age 82. Rev. Robert Porisch officated. Burial was in the First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar. Schroeder-Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar in charge of arrangements. She died December 2, 2001 at Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage.

Shirley was born in what is now known as the Blue Belle Inn, St. Ansgar, Iowa on March 8, 1919, the daughter of Sherwin and Irma (Lubiens) Kleinwort. She was joined in marriage to Oliver A. Fossey on February 19, 1938.

Shirley was known as a trail blazer and moved through uncharted waters while pursuing a career and raising eight children. This was during the early 1940's when women were not known to work outside the home. Shirley would be described as kind, gentle and giving. In addition, she was an intelligent, strong-minded and determined individual.

One of her early careers was a door to door magazine salesperson. Imagine a woman in those days being successful in a man's world, driving a company car, while taking care of a husband and eight children. She worked outside the home at various careets until her retirement in 1974. One of the things that Shirley enjoyed most was to have family gatherings. The size of her family grew and grew as the children married and grandchildren came along. She has a total of 27 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

It would not be unusual to see her standing at the stove with one grandchild in her arms, another at her knee, while she stirred her family's favorite gravy. Her ginger snaps and chocolate chip cookies are known nationwide and perhaps worldwide. She would send homemade cookies back to school or on trips with her grandchidlren whenever or whereever possible.

Many homes, dorms and military barracks have had the benefit of Grandma Fossey's cookies. During her life she raised her children to be independent, caring, hardworking and honest. She set the example for her children. And yet, as busy as she was, we always knew she was there to suppose and stand by her children whatever the challenge. In addition to her career, Shirley could always be found at an athletic event that was being played by her family members.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 41 years; one son who died at birth; a brother, Robert Kleinwort; and one sister, Irma Tesch.

Those that survive her include one sister Gladys K. Bowles of Athens, Georgia; eight children, Sharon (Robert) Justice of Austin, Minnesota, Kenneth (Cynthia) Fossey of Edina, Minnesota, Keith (Avis) Fossey of Savage, Minnesota, Karen (Clinton) Hakes, Geneva, Illinois, Dennis (Linda) Fossey of Racine, Wisconsin, Richard (Beth) Fossey of Yorba Linda, California, Kathleen (Mike) Cainey of Angola, Indiana, and Michael (Tracey) Fossey of St. Ansgar; 27 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law Otto H. Tesch and sisters-in-law, Margaret Kleinwort and Edith Griffith and many nieces and nephews.

[Mitchell County Press-News, online, www.mcpress.com , Posted Dec. 12, 2001]
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#2:
According to her funeral service folder, her name was Shirley Alice Fossey.

See photo of her tombstone on Iowa GPP: http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=328625
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Photo below is her 1936 graduation photo, as well as a photo from 1984. See Oliver's obituary for a photo of both of them.

Husband's obituary
 

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