Shirley P. De Graaff, 90, of Rock Valley, died Saturday, February 01, 2014 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2014 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, Iowa with a luncheon to follow. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley following the luncheon at church. Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Porter Funeral home in Rock Valley.
Memorials may be given to the Tabernacle Baptist Church Building Fund and condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.
Shirley Phyllis (Stuckenbruck) De Graaff was born December 6, 1923 at her family’s farm south of Rock Valley. She was the only child of Rich and Helen (Borchers) Stuckenbruck. Shirley attended Country School through 8th grade then Rock Valley Public School where she graduated with the class of 1941. She was united in marriage to Harold De Graaff on August 29, 1946. The couple farmed south of Rock Valley until 2000. They retired to Rock Valley in 2003. Harold passed away on October 23, 2007, in Rock Valley, after more than 61 years of marriage. In November 2011 Shirley moved to Aspen Heights Assisted Living in Hull; then in December 2013 moved to Whispering Heights Nursing Home in Rock Valley.
Shirley was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church of George, Iowa. She believed in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. Her heart’s desire was for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to know the Lord and walk with Him! She loved spending time with family and friends. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, sewing and working alongside her husband doing the farm work.
Shirley is survived by her children, Douglas (Judy) De Graaff of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Sharla (David) Brammer of Sioux Center, and Curtis (Karen) De Graaff of Brownsburg, Indiana; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; 4 sisters-in-law: Angeline Oolbekkink of New London, Minnesota, Verna (Bill) Boer of Rock Valley and Alma (Jerry) Van Aalsburg of Modesto, California and Gladys De Graaff of Meridian, Idaho.
Shirley was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold De Graaff, her parents and 5 brothers-in-law: Francis, Donald, William, Mitchell and Elmer De Graaff; 3 sisters-in-law: Josephine Peters, Betty and Minnie De Graaff and a grandson, Benjamin Douglas De Graaff.
