Shirley M. Howe's Obituary
Shirley Mae Howe, 92, of Elvira, passed away, Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the same home she was born in 1933 on the family farm.
Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Monday, October 13, 2025 at the Elvira Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Elvira Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:45am at the church. The Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is assisting the family.
Shirley was born on May 13, 1933, to August and Vernetta (Naeve) Benson. She graduated from Elvira High School in 1951. She married John K. Howe on May 26, 1957 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton; he died April 18, 2018.
Shirley was employed as a secretary with Prudential Insurance from 1957-1960. She was the founder of the Elvira Food Pantry in the mid 1980’s. She was a member of the Elvira Zion Lutheran Church and belonged to the Naomi Circle. Her greatest joy in life was making sure her husband and boys were well fed and cared for. She specialty was having a big noon dinner at the farm and making pies. She took great pride in making quilts for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and anyone in need.
Shirley is survived by her sons: Jeff (Teri) and Joel (Nancy); grandchildren: Casey (Laura) Howe, Stephanie (Cassidy) Peterson, Tyler (Caitlin) Howe, Jordan (Whitney) Howe, Caleb Howe, Katelyn (Daniel) Dunnmore, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; a special thank you to Mary Burkert for always giving special attention to Shirley over the years and to Shannon Ramos for being a special caregiver throughout the years.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, grandson: Kyle Howe, and two sisters: Arlene and Joan.
Memorials can be made to the Elvira Zion Lutheran Church for the Backpack Program or to the Sunday School.
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