Shirley A. Spitser

Shirley Spitser

Shirley A. Spitser, 88, of Pawnee City, Neb. passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 at the Premier Estates in Pawnee City. She was born on March 6, 1929 on a farm south of Pierce, Neb. to Willard and Helen (Voecks) Watson.

Shirley grew up on a farm south of Pierce, Neb., the farm that had been homesteaded by her great-grandfather.

Shirley graduated from Pierce High School in 1946. She then went to college and graduated from Lincoln School of Commerce and the University of Nebraska. Shirley married Walter Spitser on June 3,1956 at the Methodist Church in Pawnee City. To this union, three children were born: Susan Jean, Bruce Charles and Mary Louise. They lived on a farm southwest of Pawnee City from 1957 to 1995. Walter passed away in 1995.

Shirley worked as a secretary at UNL, while she was attending UNL to become a teacher. After graduating she taught Business Arts (typing, shorthand and bookkeeping) at Pawnee City High School from 1954-1959. When she interviewed for the teaching job at Pawnee City, she took the train from Lincoln to get to Pawnee City. Shirley said part of the interview included walking around Pawnee City to meet the school board members. Shirley quit teaching in 1959, when the couple started their family, but went back to substitute teaching early in the 1970s. Not wishing to go back to teaching full time, she took a job as the high school secretary at Pawnee City Schools in 1973 and retired in 1999.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Pawnee City, and she was a church auditor for many years. She taught Sunday school for many years, and was active in the United Methodist Women, holding various offices.

Shirley's hobbies and interests included Husker sports and Pawnee City School activities. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crossword and word search puzzles. After retirement, she volunteered at the Pawnee City Library and also with the reading program at the Pawnee City Elementary School. She enjoyed all the family activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Helen Watson; her husband, Walter Spitser; her parents-in-law, Elmer Clay and Frances Spitser; her brother, Eldon Watson; her sisters, Naida Watson and Lois Bueher; her brothers-in-law, Albert Spitser and Clifford Spitser; and her sister-in-law, Ruth Appling.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Susan Spitser of Beatrice and Mary Dehart (Kent) of League City, Texas; her son, Bruce Spitser (Betsy) of Pawnee City; her grandchildren, Tyler Spitser of Fremont and Mackenzie Spitser of Lincoln; her sisters, Marilyn Watson of Gaithersburg, Md. and Alyce Watson of Lincoln, Neb.; her brother, Charles Watson of North Little Rock, Ark.; her sisters-in-law, Murl Gottula of Elk Creek, Neb., Pearl Schulenberg of Orion, Ill. and Betty Spitser of Pawnee City; as well as her nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 at the United Methodist Church of Pawnee City, Neb., with Pastor Sherry Sklenar officiating. Visitation will take place on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, located at 919 G St. in Pawnee City. Inurnment will be at the Pawnee City Cemetery of Pawnee City. Memorials may be made to the Pawnee City Library Foundation and/or Pawnee City Athletic Boosters. Online condolence may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.