A Mass of Christian Burial for Shirley Ann (Fesler) Clausen, 88 of Solon, formerly of Iowa City, will be held Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hills, with Father Michael Spiekermeier officiating. Burial will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in rural Hills. Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2017 from 4:30 – 7PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with a Rosary being recited at 4:30PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for Pathways Adult Health Center and St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Shirley Clausen died Saturday, April 1, 2017.
Shirley Ann Fesler was born July 25, 1928, in Riverside Iowa, the daughter of Lyle Jacob Fesler and Elisabeth Dorothy “Bessie” (Gerot) Fesler. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in Riverside, attended Mount St. Clare College in Dubuque, then taught in a one room school. Shirley married Donald John Clausen on August 10, 1948. Together they owned and operated a family farm while raising six children south and east of Iowa City. Shirley worked alongside Don, whether on field work or livestock. She was a resourceful cook that could make a meal from anything, and had a natural talent for quilting, sewing and needle work. Shirley was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed playing cards.
Survivors include five children: Lucille (Mike) Parker of Hills, Mary Jane Clausen of Riverside, Jean (Mike) Donohue of Iowa City, William Clausen & Moe Rogers of Hills, Eileen (Mike) Stumpf of Hills, eight grandchildren: Jarad & Lucas, Melissa, Dana, Adam, Lee, Gayle, Jeff, Betsy, Paul, Wyatt, 8 great grandchildren, one sister, Betty Philbin of Milwaukee, WI, and two sisters-in-law, Alice (Cecil) Smith and Geraldine Clausen, both of Iowa City.
Preceding Shirley in death were her parents, her husband Donald, her son John, four sisters: Marie Reed, Marjorie Walsh, Wilma Buline and Marilyn Eagle and one brother-in-law Christian Clausen.