Shirley Ann Thorson (1934-2008)

THORSON, NYGUARD, OLSON, SAWICKI, COLE, HENDERSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 5/27/2008 at 17:00:16

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

Shirley Ann Thorson, 74, of Phoenix, Arizona, died Friday, April 18, 2008, of cancer. Funeral services were held in the atrium at Green Acres Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday, April 26, with Pastor Steven Holm of Desert Cross Lutheran Church officiating. Jane Yost, of Tempe, Arizona sang "From A Distance," which was the opening song, followed by a prayer. Son-in-law Bill Sawicki then spoke. The song, "I Did It My Way," by Nana Mouskouri was played, and Rosie Parks spoke on - behalf of the family. Natalie Thorson-Sawicki paid tribute to her mother, and Cameron said a good-bye eulogy dedicated to his grandmother on behalf of Tanna and him. Closing was by Jane Yost singing "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You".

Entombment was at Green Acres Mausoleum in Scottsdale next to her husband Robert, daughter Shelby and mother Louise.

Shirley Ann was born on Feb. 4, 1934, in Story City, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence Nyguard and Louise (Olson) Nyguard. She was a 1952 graduate of Story City High School, and two years later, married Robert Dean Thorson on Oct. 31, 1954, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Story City. They became the loving parents of Natalie Ann on June 20, 1958, and Shelby Darcel on August 11, 1962 in Roswell, New Mexico, where Robert was stationed with the U. S. Air Force.

Shirley was employed by Iowa State University as a supervisor of the Computer Science Center before retiring to Arizona in 1988, to be close to her two daughters, Shelby and Natalie, and her two grandchildren.

Her love of sports led her to watch and attend Arizona Cardinals games, ASU games, Desert Vista High School games, and of course her favorite, the Phoenix Suns. The "lights" of her life were her two grandchildren, Cameron and Tanna. She very much enjoyed attending all of their school events and activities.

Survivors include her daughter, Natalie Thorson-Sawicki, son-in law, William Sawicki, grandson, Cameron Jay Sawicki, and granddaughter, Tanna Darcel Sawicki, all of Phoenix, Arizona.

Her father, Clarence Nyguard, husband, Robert Thorson, daughter, Shelby Thorson-Cole, and mother, Louise Henderson preceded her in death.