BEAKLER, Shirley A. (1937-2020)

BEAKLER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/7/2022 at 10:31:12

Shirley Ann Beakler
(July 7, 1937 - August 28, 2020)

A celebration of life for Shirley Ann Beakler, 83, who passed away Friday, August 28, 2020 at the Indianola Good Samaritan Center, will be held at a later date. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date in the Colfax Cemetery, Colfax, Iowa. Shirley Ann Beakler was born July 7, 1937, to Donald and Jeanetta (Scheffers) Wing in Des Moines. The family resided in several cities in central Iowa through Shirley’s younger years. Shirley graduated from Lincoln High School in Des Moines in 1954. Shirley settled into Des Moines and worked for Northwestern Bell telephone company; and enjoyed spending her spare time showing and riding saddle bred horses.
Shirley met Marvin Merle Beakler and later married in 1958. They settled into the Des Moines area and started their family. Shirley stayed home to raise their children while Marvin worked for Roter Rooter corporation. Shirley gave birth to their first child Linda Diane Brand (Beakler) in 1959. Shirley gave birth to their second child; John Beakler; in 1963.
Shirley and Marvin moved their family to Norwalk so they could settle down to continue raising their family. Shirley became Linda’s Girl Scout leader during elementary school; which started her career involvement with the Girl Scouts of Central Iowa. Shirley served in various roles in the Girl Scouts for over 40 years off and on making many lifelong friends. Through the girl scouts; Shirley met a family who asked for some assistance with a horse and rider knowing Shirley had some knowledge from riding and teaching earlier in her life. Through this connection; Shirley continued to help this family; and she later co-owned Raccoon Valley Horse Center. The center became a much larger part of Shirley’s life; as well as involvement of her children around the stable.
Shirley took multiple students to horse shows after training them, schooling them, and seeing their potential. Shirley would help the riders prepare and assist in deciding classes for the shows. Many of Shirley’s students were successful in their endeavors. Shirley judged many competitions and shows through the years all through the Midwest and several elsewhere in the country after receiving her Judges certificate. Shirley’s son John would travel with the stable team to shows and assist in doing all of the stable attendance during the shows; cleaning stalls, walking horses, and additional things as needed. This got John more involved at the stables.
Shirley saw an opportunity for John to get involved more than just cleaning stables; and John started riding. This became a larger part of John’s life. John exercised several horses from the stable; and later exercised many champion horses at Prairie Meadows and other tracks around the country.
After her time at Raccoon Valley; Shirley saw an opportunity to leave Raccoon Valley and pursue a new venture. Valley Park Stables became that for Shirley; and was a part of the family’s life for many years. During the years at Valley Park Stables Shirley continued to build multiple relationships with families and individuals through instruction and boarding at the stables. Many of these individuals were prominent in the Des Moines community; helping Shirley at different times through the next few decades of her life.
Prairie Meadows opened in 1989; and the leadership at Prairie Meadows approached Shirley to help out with her expertise and relationships in the Equine community. Shirley used her expertise to help train horses. Due to a medical issue in her leg; Shirley had to slow down her activity on the track and at the stables and was unable continue being as active in training. Shirley accepted a position at Prairie Meadows leading the events and marketing teams through the formidable years of the track until the mid 1990’s. In 1991 Shirley and Marv realized their dream of owning a horse ranch and bought 18 acres outside of Dallas Center. Shirley continued breeding and caring for horses at their ranch, Green Lee farm.
After retiring, Shirley would take weekly lunches with Linda and Gary. Celebrating Gary’s birthday weekly. In 2006 Shirley and Marv moved to Indianola to be closer to family.
Through her daughter; Shirley became a grandmother. Shirley would always enjoy having her three grandchildren over at the house whenever possible. Many times the grandchildren were involved at the stable; and then known at Prairie Meadows as Shirley’s grandkids. Shirley’s grandchildren remember their individual time spent with their grandmother in different ways. Melissa enjoyed going to book shops, going out to lunch, and seeing movies. Jennifer enjoyed spending time playing rummy and eating ice cream with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma also loved her great grandchildren Alexandra and Wyatt immensely. They enjoyed going on bucking bronco rides on Great Grandmas walker and laughing together. Cindy enjoyed that grandma took time to get her riding lesson for horseback riding, stops for McDonald’s ice cream cones, going to lunch and her out pouring of love and support.
Shirley is survived by her two children; Linda Brand (Gary) and John Beakler; three grandchildren Melissa Byerly (Scott), Jennifer Wandell (Matt), and Cynthia Uhlman; and three great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her husband Marvin Beakler in 2017.
In lieu of flowers; the family requests all donations be made to one of two charities that Shirley was very passionate about. Donations can be made in memoriam of Shirley to the Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or Kiya-Koda. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/