McGillicuddy, Shirley Ann (Mrs. Walter) 1937-2024

MCGILLICUDDY, KOENCK, EDDY, FAY

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2024 at 14:04:13

Shirley Ann (Fay) McGillicuddy, 86, of Rifle, Colorado, formerly of Akron, Iowa, passed away Friday, January 19, 2024, at Grand River Health in Rifle, Colorado surrounded by her family.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron, Iowa. Pastor Stuart Schuerr will officiate. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Akron, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. There will be a time of Memory Sharing at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Shirley was born July 14th, 1937 in Emmetsburg, Iowa to Harold and Lula (Eddy) Fay. She was raised on a farm south of Emmetsburg, where she attended school and worked on the family farm alongside her daddy.

In 1955, she married Marvin Koenck in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They resided in Cherokee, Hawarden, and the South Sioux City area, where Shirley was a stay-at-home mom and a member of the PTA.

In 1973, Shirley married Walter McGillicuddy in Elk Point, South Dakota. They resided in Syracuse, NY, Sioux City and Akron, IA area. Early in their marriage, they traveled the country, taking turns driving semi-trucks and visiting new places. She was a homemaker for her 8 children. She also worked various jobs, including waitressing, assistant manager at Caseys, in home daycare and telemarketing. Walt passed away on July 5th, 1999.

Shirley continued to live in the Akron/Hawarden areas. Shirley traveled several times via Amtrak train from Iowa to Colorado to visit family. She later relocated to Colorado, residing in Rifle and Antonito. She enjoyed reading, playing bingo, playing games on her I-pad, shopping on QVC and spending time with her children and grandchildren, whether that be in person, on the phone, or through Facebook, where she would randomly send thumbs up emojis to everyone.

Shirley moved into the Chateau at Rifle Assisted Living the week of her birthday in July 2023. She fought hard to move there because she was not old, but in the end, she loved every minute of it. She met many great friends there. She appointed herself “head of the Neighborhood Watch” at the Chateau because she said that she had the perfect room with all the views.

Survivors include her children: Faith (Dave) Boettcher of Akron, Son-in-law Charles Clark of Hawarden, Vicki Pulfrey of Hudson, SD, Marvin Jr “Sonny” Koenck of Graettinger, Mark “Pope” (Brenda Saxton) Koenck of Sioux City, Mickey (Judy) Koenck of Remsen, Mary (Tom) Boynton of Manassa, CO, Wendy (Donald Boynton) Maxson of Battlement Mesa, CO, 18 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 2 on the way, 2 great-great grandchildren, and 14 step grandchildren; her sisters: Jane (Bob) Meins of Homer, NE and Margaret (Jim) Williams of Clanton, AL, along with numerous nieces & nephews, who referred to her as “Aunt Sissy”.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, daughter Elaine Clark, granddaughter Jessica Utech, and step-granddaughter Brooke Edwards, great-grand daughter Ruby Elaine Parker, sons-in-law - Irvin “Jr” Pulfrey and Kevin Voegeli, siblings Marlene Chase, Bonnie Harson, and Harold “Bub” Fay Jr.

Mom refused to fly in all of her 86 years, ironically, her final journey back home was on an airplane.

The family would like to thank the Chateau at Rifle Assisted Living and Grand River Hospital for all their amazing care during her final days. She truly was a mom and grandma to everyone.

Source: Rexwinkel Funeral Home online obituary.