Shirley Straate

Shirley D. Straate, 83, of Waukon died Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 1 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser  officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.
Shirley Darlene (Huffman) Straate was born December 28, 1930 in Rossville. She was the youngest of six children born to Lee and Gladys (Leas) Huffman. She attended the Jefferson #6 school at Rossville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1948. Following her schooling she worked as a secretary.
November 21, 1952 she married Harry Edward Straate at the Rossville Presbyterian Church. Shirley and Harry farmed together for many years. She was a stay at home mom but always busy with caring for the children, helping with things on the farm, and raising a big garden which she loved to share produce from.
Shirley was a member of Zion United Church of Christ. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards and took in a lot of ballgames when the kids were growing up. After moving to Waukon she looked forward to her morning and afternoon coffee breaks with friends.
Survivors include her three children, Daniel (Jody) Straate of Waukon, Russell (Diana) Straate of Corcoran, MN and Ellen (Jim) Toomsen of Ackley; two grandsons, Samuel and Matthew Straate; a step-granddaughter, Cassandra (Noah) Daley; a great-grandchild, Peyton Jo Daley; a sister, June Serbousek of Anamosa; and a brother, Francis Huffman of Marion.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry, who died in 2003; three sisters, Neva Mead, Imogene Montour and Betty Everman; four brothers-in-law, Joe Mead, Harvey Montour, Leonard Serbousek and Harold Everman; a sister-in-law, Orpha “Peg” Huffman; and a niece and a nephew.
Casketbearers were Mike Mead, Alan Serbousek, Steve and Dean Montour, and Troy and Craig Everman.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.