Hannah M. (Witt) Shirk (1877-1933)

WITT, RUNG, SHIRK, SCANLAN, BARTHOLOMEW, LIVELY

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

With many railroad officials and employees present, Mrs. Hannah M. Shirk, 56, widow of the late William S. Shirk, engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, was accorded final tribute in funeral services held Tuesday afternoon, October 12 at the Grace M.E. church at Spencer, with the pastor, Dr. H.E. Hutchinson, officiating.

Mrs. William S. Shirk was widely known in this community, having lived here for a number of years.

Mrs. Shirk had not been well for some months, but the illness which was the cause of her death lasted for only a week. Her death was caused by myocarditis.

Members of the Rebekah lodge, which conducted burial services at the grave in the Hartley cemetery, and Royal Neighbors sat in a body at the church. Mrs. Shirk was affiliated with both organizations.

Hannah M. Witt, daughter of August and Wilhelmina [Rung] Witt, was born January 31, 1877, at Harper, Iowa, A few years later she came with her parents to northwest Iowa, where she has been resided. October 28, 1894, at Sanborn, she was married to William S. Shirk. They lived in Sanborn until 1915 when they moved to Spencer. There her husband died October 6, 1922.

Mrs. Shirk has been a member of the Methodist church for many years, first at Sanborn and since in Spencer. She was also a member of the Rebekah and Royal Neighbor lodges.

She leaves, besides a large circle of friends, one son, Claire M. Shirk, Spencer, Iowa; two step sons, I.M. Shirk, Chester, S.D., and William S. Shirk, Watford City, N.D.; one step-daughter, Mrs. George Scanlan, Bradley, South Dakota; two brothers, William H. Witt, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oscar A. Witt, Superior, Wisconsin; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Bartholomew and Mrs. Bessie Lively, both of Hood River, Oregon.

Sanborn (Iowa) Pioneer, 19 October 1933, p6