Moe Posson, Shirley Anne 1925-2012
MOE, POSSON, RAMSTEN, JACOBSEN, HILL
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/4/2012 at 11:32:46
Shirley A. Moe Posson, age 86 of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 16, 2012 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Private Family inurnment will follow later in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.
Visitation begins on Monday at 10:00 A.M. Monday, one hour before services, at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.
Shirley Anne Moe Posson was born May 29, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of William Henry and Anna Dorothea Gustafva (Ramsten) Moe. When she was six months old, her mother died suddenly and subsequently she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Alice and Chester Posson, also of Chicago. She graduated from Kelvyn High School in 1943. Shirley attended Luther College in Decorah, graduating in 1947, B.A., Magna Cum Laude with majors in Physical Education and Social Science, Minor in Education. Shirley, with her classmate, Alyce Hanson Bernatz, convinced Hamlet Peterson and Myrtle Stokke of the need for a physical education major for women, and became the first two of many Luther women to graduate with this major. In addition, she was twice Duchess at Luther, a charter member of Nordic Choir, president of the Women’s Recreation Association and of the Board of Religious Activities. Shirley then taught Physical Education at Luther for the next school year. Her service to Luther in later years included being her Class Agent for a number of years.
Shirley moved to Wheaton, Illinois and taught Health and Physical Education in elementary, junior and senior high schools, and she also supervised student teachers. In 1951-1952 she did graduate work in Health and Physical Education at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. In 1955 she received her M.A. Degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, in Health and Physical Education. She then became an instructor and professor of Physical Education at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, where she taught activity, theory, major and methods, and teacher training courses. At U.N.I., she was an instrumental member of the Revision Committee of the classic text book Physical Education for Elementary Grades, by Wild and White. She taught many sections of the class to prospective teachers. She also wrote several articles for Division of Girls and Women’s Sports sports guides. In 1960 she moved back to Decorah and taught Physical Education at Luther College for one year. She then went the University of Wisconsin in Madison and was a teaching assistant in Physical Education. In 1963 she moved back to Cedar Falls and was a Residence Hall Director, counselor and program advisor at the University of Northern Iowa for five years. In 1968 she went to Western Illinois University in Macomb where she was an assistant professor of Physical Education and taught activity, theory, major and methods, and teaching training courses for three years. In 1971 she moved to Palatine, Illinois and was a Community Service Officer for the Palatine Police Department for four years. From 1975-1976 Shirley was a counselor-in-training at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, earning a certificate of completion in September 1976. At Lutheran General Hospital-Parkside Lutheran Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, she became a counselor, counselor trainer and supervisor, and program manager. She developed programs for senior citizen substance abusers, treatment of substance abusers, family members, and eating disorders. She did numerous seminars and presented articles. She was given an award from the Governor of Illinois for developing and conducting a program on The Invisible Abuse: Alcohol & Drug Abuse in the Older Adult. She also worked with the starting of a day care center for the elderly. In 1979 she attended the Midwest Institute of Alcohol Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She became a Certified Illinois Alcoholism Counselor in 1981 and Certified Senior Addictions Counselor in 1986. She moved back to Decorah in 1986 and began working at the Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center as a counselor and supervisor. She developed groups for substance abusers, co-dependents, and compulsive overeaters. She contributed to methods for substance abuse evaluation techniques, helped develop the Intensive Outpatient Program and the I.O.P. Counselors’ Manual, and became a liaison to the Department of Correctional Services for the State of Iowa.
She was a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois and First Lutheran Church in Decorah, where she was active in circle, choir, Sunday school teacher, councils and boards, Lay Minister, Stephen’s Ministry, and prayer chain leader. Shirley was very proud to be an over 40 year member of Alcoholics Anonymous and was very active in the organization. In Decorah she was involved in numerous organizations including Luther College Women’s Club, President and Treasurer of West Side Study Club, Vesterheim Museum docent, Vesterheim Elderhostel woodcarving teacher, was on the Board of Directors of the Aase Haugen Nursing Home, was a member of Oneota Golf and Country Club, liked to golf, and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, reading, and computer. She was also a devoted Chicago Cubs fan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her aunt and uncle that raised her; and two brothers: William Henry Moe Jr. and Arthur Whiting Moe.
Shirley is survived by her sister, E. Lois (Moe) Jacobsen of Decorah, IA; two brothers: A. Laurance (Lucille) Moe of Colorado Springs, CO and Paul R. (Judy) Moe of Prospect Heights, IL; a cousin, Dorothy Posson Hill of Alpharetta, GA; and by many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be given to Luther College or First Lutheran Church.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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