Harriette Claire Shirk was born in Ida Grove, Iowa, on November 7, 1926, the third child of William E. “Ed” and Jessie (Krick) Shirk. She was later baptized into her Christian faith. She joined her loved ones in Heaven on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Growing up in Ida Grove, many relatives, neighbors, and friends influenced her life. She was active in her church and enjoyed many school activities including sports and music. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944. She was then employed at Ida County State Bank.
On February 26, 1947, she was married in the Ida Grove Church of God to Chris M. Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa. They farmed in Battle Creek and Ida Grove for several years before moving to Newell, Iowa, in 1960. They were blessed with four children. Harriette was a member of Nain Lutheran Church, where she was known for her beautiful voice and served as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, and council member.
Harriette held various jobs throughout the years – working for World Book, Varina Grain, the Good Samaritan Society, and Newell Schools as a bus driver and a teacher of ESL. She actively promoted community projects and civic groups, centennial, Newell Happenings, Business & Professional Women, and Newell Golf Club. She nurtured her garden and generously shared flowers, produce, and baked goods. She loved to take her children and grandchildren fishing, camping, golfing, and for rides on her Honda 70. She enjoyed their school activities and was an ardent Mustang fan. She shared her love of golf by teaching young children. She was always ready for a good card game.
A tragic event in her life was losing her oldest daughter, Sharen, in a traffic accident in 2001. Harriette was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Chris Laursen of Newell, Iowa; three children: Cynthia (Doug) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Susan (John) Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Lynn (Tami) Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; son-in-law, Arlin Brower of Saratoga, Wyoming; nine grandchildren: Jerod Bruner of Nashville, Tennessee; Jaime (Al) Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; Rhett (Autumn) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; John W. Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Wade Brower of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tyler Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; Garrett Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Katelyn Laursen of Grimes, Iowa; Blake Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; two great granddaughters, Linden and Mila Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; one great grandson, Jase Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; sister, Virginia Wellendorf of Ida Grove, Iowa; sister-in-law, Leona Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Harriette was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sharen; sister, Betty (Ray) Raasch; brother, Jim (Ardith) Shirk; brothers-in-law, Darrel Wellendorf and Earl Laursen. All who knew and loved her, will miss her loyalty, ready smile, and caring compassion.
Growing up in Ida Grove, many relatives, neighbors, and friends influenced her life. She was active in her church and enjoyed many school activities including sports and music. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944. She was then employed at Ida County State Bank.
On February 26, 1947, she was married in the Ida Grove Church of God to Chris M. Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa. They farmed in Battle Creek and Ida Grove for several years before moving to Newell, Iowa, in 1960. They were blessed with four children. Harriette was a member of Nain Lutheran Church, where she was known for her beautiful voice and served as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, and council member.
Harriette held various jobs throughout the years – working for World Book, Varina Grain, the Good Samaritan Society, and Newell Schools as a bus driver and a teacher of ESL. She actively promoted community projects and civic groups, centennial, Newell Happenings, Business & Professional Women, and Newell Golf Club. She nurtured her garden and generously shared flowers, produce, and baked goods. She loved to take her children and grandchildren fishing, camping, golfing, and for rides on her Honda 70. She enjoyed their school activities and was an ardent Mustang fan. She shared her love of golf by teaching young children. She was always ready for a good card game.
A tragic event in her life was losing her oldest daughter, Sharen, in a traffic accident in 2001. Harriette was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Chris Laursen of Newell, Iowa; three children: Cynthia (Doug) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Susan (John) Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Lynn (Tami) Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; son-in-law, Arlin Brower of Saratoga, Wyoming; nine grandchildren: Jerod Bruner of Nashville, Tennessee; Jaime (Al) Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; Rhett (Autumn) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; John W. Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Wade Brower of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tyler Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; Garrett Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Katelyn Laursen of Grimes, Iowa; Blake Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; two great granddaughters, Linden and Mila Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; one great grandson, Jase Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; sister, Virginia Wellendorf of Ida Grove, Iowa; sister-in-law, Leona Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Harriette was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sharen; sister, Betty (Ray) Raasch; brother, Jim (Ardith) Shirk; brothers-in-law, Darrel Wellendorf and Earl Laursen. All who knew and loved her, will miss her loyalty, ready smile, and caring compassion.
Harriette Claire Shirk was born in Ida Grove, Iowa, on November 7, 1926, the third child of William E. “Ed” and Jessie (Krick) Shirk. She was later baptized into her Christian faith. She joined her loved ones in Heaven on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Growing up in Ida Grove, many relatives, neighbors, and friends influenced her life. She was active in her church and enjoyed many school activities including sports and music. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944. She was then employed at Ida County State Bank.
On February 26, 1947, she was married in the Ida Grove Church of God to Chris M. Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa. They farmed in Battle Creek and Ida Grove for several years before moving to Newell, Iowa, in 1960. They were blessed with four children. Harriette was a member of Nain Lutheran Church, where she was known for her beautiful voice and served as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, and council member.
Harriette held various jobs throughout the years – working for World Book, Varina Grain, the Good Samaritan Society, and Newell Schools as a bus driver and a teacher of ESL. She actively promoted community projects and civic groups, centennial, Newell Happenings, Business & Professional Women, and Newell Golf Club. She nurtured her garden and generously shared flowers, produce, and baked goods. She loved to take her children and grandchildren fishing, camping, golfing, and for rides on her Honda 70. She enjoyed their school activities and was an ardent Mustang fan. She shared her love of golf by teaching young children. She was always ready for a good card game.
A tragic event in her life was losing her oldest daughter, Sharen, in a traffic accident in 2001. Harriette was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Chris Laursen of Newell, Iowa; three children: Cynthia (Doug) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Susan (John) Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Lynn (Tami) Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; son-in-law, Arlin Brower of Saratoga, Wyoming; nine grandchildren: Jerod Bruner of Nashville, Tennessee; Jaime (Al) Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; Rhett (Autumn) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; John W. Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Wade Brower of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tyler Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; Garrett Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Katelyn Laursen of Grimes, Iowa; Blake Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; two great granddaughters, Linden and Mila Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; one great grandson, Jase Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; sister, Virginia Wellendorf of Ida Grove, Iowa; sister-in-law, Leona Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Harriette was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sharen; sister, Betty (Ray) Raasch; brother, Jim (Ardith) Shirk; brothers-in-law, Darrel Wellendorf and Earl Laursen. All who knew and loved her, will miss her loyalty, ready smile, and caring compassion.
Growing up in Ida Grove, many relatives, neighbors, and friends influenced her life. She was active in her church and enjoyed many school activities including sports and music. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944. She was then employed at Ida County State Bank.
On February 26, 1947, she was married in the Ida Grove Church of God to Chris M. Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa. They farmed in Battle Creek and Ida Grove for several years before moving to Newell, Iowa, in 1960. They were blessed with four children. Harriette was a member of Nain Lutheran Church, where she was known for her beautiful voice and served as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, and council member.
Harriette held various jobs throughout the years – working for World Book, Varina Grain, the Good Samaritan Society, and Newell Schools as a bus driver and a teacher of ESL. She actively promoted community projects and civic groups, centennial, Newell Happenings, Business & Professional Women, and Newell Golf Club. She nurtured her garden and generously shared flowers, produce, and baked goods. She loved to take her children and grandchildren fishing, camping, golfing, and for rides on her Honda 70. She enjoyed their school activities and was an ardent Mustang fan. She shared her love of golf by teaching young children. She was always ready for a good card game.
A tragic event in her life was losing her oldest daughter, Sharen, in a traffic accident in 2001. Harriette was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Chris Laursen of Newell, Iowa; three children: Cynthia (Doug) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Susan (John) Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Lynn (Tami) Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; son-in-law, Arlin Brower of Saratoga, Wyoming; nine grandchildren: Jerod Bruner of Nashville, Tennessee; Jaime (Al) Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; Rhett (Autumn) Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; John W. Anderson of Yankton, South Dakota; Wade Brower of Scottsdale, Arizona; Tyler Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; Garrett Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Katelyn Laursen of Grimes, Iowa; Blake Laursen of Lakeside, Iowa; two great granddaughters, Linden and Mila Bruner of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; one great grandson, Jase Archuleta of Brighton, Colorado; sister, Virginia Wellendorf of Ida Grove, Iowa; sister-in-law, Leona Laursen of Battle Creek, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Harriette was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Sharen; sister, Betty (Ray) Raasch; brother, Jim (Ardith) Shirk; brothers-in-law, Darrel Wellendorf and Earl Laursen. All who knew and loved her, will miss her loyalty, ready smile, and caring compassion.
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