Shirley Mae Wassenberg (1927-2006)
Shirley Mae Wassenberg, geb. Keck als Tochter von Elijah O. and Cora M. Oehm Keck in Marysville am 5.11.1927, Heirat am 6.1.1949 mit Henry Gregory Wassenberg in Marysville, + 17.10.2006 in Rochester, Minnesota.
Shirley Mae Wassenberg, 78, Marysville, died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006, at Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
A service was at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Marysville. A prayer service was at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church. Burial was in the church cemetery. The Rev. Gary Pennings officiated. Bob Welch was organist, and the church choir sang “Here I Am Lord,” “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagles Wings” and “How Great Thou Art.”
Pallbearers were Jake Wassenberg, Ryan Kloppenberg, Casey Cohorst, Christopher Smith, Bruce Wehling and Tommy McNeese. Honorary pallbearers were Delmo Fragel, Bob Shipman, Trent Moser, Gary Adrian, Gene Houtz, Jim Breeding and Bob Welch.
Shirley Wassenberg was born Nov. 5, 1927, in Marysville to Elijah O. and Cora M. Oehm Keck. She married Henry Gregory Wassenberg Jan. 6, 1949, in Marysville. They have six children. She was active in Democratic politics, serving as Marshall County chairman and secretary of the Kansas Democratic Party. She was Kansas Democratic national committeewoman from 1976-1980. She attended five national Democratic conventions, three as a delegate, one as an alternate and one as a national committeewoman.
She was a real estate saleswoman in Marysville. She was the secretary-treasurer of the family Pepsi-Cola franchise of Marysville and Manhattan.
She was a member of St. Gregory’s Church, the Altar Society, Daughters of Isabella, Women of the Moose and American Legion Auxiliary. She was a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Marysville. She enjoyed horseback riding, playing golf and bridge.
Survivors include her husband, Henry; six children, H. Arnold Wassenberg, Lincoln, Ellen Lamoreaux, Waterville, Dan Wassenberg, Marysville, Janis Kloppenberg, Council Grove, Tom Wassenberg, Lincoln, and Amy Cohorst, Scottsdale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one brother, Cyril Keck, Bella Vista, Ark. Preceding her in death were her parents.
A memorial fund has been established in her name for the St. Gregory’s Catholic School Endowment. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary.
