Rev. Shirley H. Will

Rev. Shirley H. Will
Jefferson, Iowa
Date of Death: October 16, 2023
A Memorial Service for Rev. Shirley H. Will, age 67, of Jefferson, will be held at 1:30pm Friday, October 20, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Jefferson, Iowa.
For those who cannot attend, the memorial service will be live streamed. Live streaming will begin a few minutes prior to the start of the service. You do not need a password. Click the link below to connect to the Slininger-Schroeder Face Book page. https://www.facebook.com/SliningerSchroederFuneralHome/?view_public_for=105863521139107
Following the memorial service, everyone is invited into First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall for refreshments and visiting.
Obituary for Shirley Hoffmann Will
Shirley was born July 28, 1956, at St. Francis Hospital in Washington, Missouri. She was the first child of Hollis and Marion (Fleer) Hoffmann, of Berger, MO.
Shirley began her primary education in the Hermann (MO) school district, continued it when the family lived in Grinnell, Iowa from 1962 – 66, and then finished it in 1974, when she graduated from Carlisle High School. In 1975, Shirley completed a 60-hour course at Des Moines Area Community College so she could work as a Nursing Home Nurse's Aide.
Shirley began her secondary education in Warrensburg, MO, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in elementary Education in 1977, and then her Master's Degree in Education in 1983. Shirley began her teaching career at age 20 in the Lake Of The Ozarks School District, working mostly with special needs students. Her work with her students deepened her spiritual connection in a profound way.
After a few years of teaching in central Missouri, and a short sabbatical with Dave and Sharron Schar at Camp Wesley Woods in Indianola, Iowa, Shirley heeded The Call, and left for Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where she graduated in May, 1990. Shirley would go on to pastor at United Methodist Churches in Jefferson, New London, Cedar Rapids, Packwood, Sumner, Lake Mills, and Griswold for 31 years before retiring to Jefferson in 2021.
In 1997, Shirley travelled to Russia and adopted Emma, who changed, challenged and blessed Shirley's life. In 2000, at Camp Wesley Woods in Indianola, Shirley married her perfect partner, Gerold "Jerry" Will. The three of them had a wonderful life together.
Shirley enjoyed many craft activities, as well as traveling. The latter included several trips to Europe to reconnect with many of the foreign exchange students she hosted over the years.
Shirley died October 16, 2023 at the age of 67 years. She is survived by her mother, Marion; her brother, Edwin; her sister-in-law, Lisa; her niece, Rachael and her husband, Ethan Howard, and their son, Oliver; her nephew, Christian; her niece, Elizabeth; her godsons, Derek and Kyle Roeder; three aunts; an uncle; and many cousins.
Shirley will be interred at St. James Church, Stony Hill, MO, next to her husband, daughter and father.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any donations be sent to either the Ronald McDonald House program or Camp Wesley Woods.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care 515-386-2171