Shirley Mae Henshaw

SHIRLEY MAE HENSHAW April 20, 1928 – July 13, 2019                   Shirley Mae Henshaw, age 91, of Alexandria, MN, formerly of Park Rapids, MN and Oelwein, IA, peacefully passed into eternal life on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Alomere Hospital in Alexandria, MN with her loved ones at her side.                  Shirley was born on April 20, 1928 in Alton, Iowa to Nicholas and Antonette (Haupert) Gaul.  She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School from where she graduated high school with the Class of 1946.  She then went on to attend the Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA.  As a young woman, Shirley gained employment with Pilley’s Creamery in Sioux City where she worked in the accounting department.  On April 6, 1948, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Richard Henshaw at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton.   They made their home in Storm Lake, IA until December of that year when they moved to Oelwein.  They were blessed with five children:  Bonnie, Rick, Mary, Betty and Jane.  Shirley devoted her life to making a loving home for her family. In addition to caring for her family, Shirley worked as a telephone operator for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company first in Storm Lake and then also in Oelwein.  Later she worked as a study hall aid and librarian in the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Oelwein.  Shirley also worked as a cook in the Oelwein Community School for a number of years.  She and Richard retired to a home on Boot Lake, MN near Two Inlets, MN in 1983.  They moved to Park Rapids in 2002 where they made their home until moving to Alexandria in 2017.  Shirley was an active and faithful member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids and most recently had taken part in the Church of St. Mary in Alexandria.  She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America in Oelwein and was also a part of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society.  Shirley also sang in the Sacred Heart Choir and served as the Sacred Heart Pro-Life Chair in Oelwein.   She was a lifetime member of the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 Auxiliary.  Shirley had also served as the Brownie and Girl Scout leader in Oelwein for 18 years.  She was a member of the Arago Friendly Homemakers and was a long-time member of the TOPS MN #800 Park Rapids Chapter.  In her spare time, Shirley enjoyed, crocheting, sewing, working on jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, dominoes, word search, and star gazing.  She also enjoyed the annual Labor Day family reunion in Iowa.                 She will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Spiegel of Peosta, IA, Rick (Alice) Henshaw of Maquoketa, Iowa, Betty Henshaw and Jane (Kevin) Richmond all of Alexandria, MN; son-in-law, Andrew Knudson of Park Rapids, MN; eleven dearly loved grandchildren, 21 precious great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter and one precious great-great-grandson; two brothers: John (Nancy) Gaul of Independence, IA and Joe Gaul of Kansas City, MO; as well as many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.                 Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2018, her daughter, Mary Knudson in 2004; three sisters: Audrey, Delores and Helen and two brothers: Don and Jim.                 Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 Am Saturday, July 27, 2019 at the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be made in the St. Peter Catholic Church Cemetery.  Following the service a luncheon will be hosted by the church family for all.  To leave online condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com