Shirley Pierce

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa -- Shirley Joan Pierce, née Lindemann, died Feb. 11, 2025, in Williamsburg, Iowa.

She was born March 6, 1934, to Frank George Lindemann and Neola Beryl Saddoris in DeWitt, Iowa, on the dining room table of her parents’ farmhouse. She attended DeWitt High School and graduated in May 1952. She attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and graduated in May 1954.

She met Dale Max Pierce in October 1953. Shirley was in the college cafeteria line for dinner, and her roommate started flirting with two men. That’s when she was first introduced to Dale, who she eventually married. Her roommate married the other man.

Shirley and Dale were married August 14, 1955, in DeWitt at the Methodist Church. A reception followed at the family farmhouse. Dale invited his seventh- and eighth-grade students to the ceremony, and they rode a school bus to attend. DeWitt had the tradition that a couple would ride in a buggy after the wedding, and the students pulled the buggy.

The Pierces lived in Williamsburg, Iowa, and had three children, Marcia, David, and Lori. Shirley taught third grade in Monticello, Iowa, from 1954-55, and fifth grade in Williamsburg from 1955-1957. She was one of four married women teachers hired that year, as married women teachers had not been hired before 1955. She worked as a special reading teacher in 1965-1966. 

Shirley worked as an office manager at GGG, Gwen’s Great Groups, a travel agency from 1971-1991, for Gwen Olivier. She also worked for the University of Iowa at the College of Medical Research in data entry from 1991-2002. She last worked for ACT, previously American College Testing, from 2002-2012 as a seasonal worker, and at one point answered the question phone line.

Shirley was an active member of St Paul’s Methodist Church starting in 1955. She taught Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School. She also enjoyed being a member of the choir.

Shirley moved to Highland Ridge Retirement Community in Williamsburg, IA, in October 2016. She transferred to their memory unit (Willowcreek) in July 2019, and moved into a care unit (Meadowbrook) in April 2024.

Her interests included music, crossword puzzles, playing cards such as bridge and SkipBo, gardening, and supporting her children and grandchildren in their activities. When her husband became school district superintendent, she attended every school activity, including sports, music, performances, and academics. She loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and Double Stuf Oreos. Shirley hated horseback riding.

She served on the board of the Williamsburg Public Library and was a PEO member.

She is survived by her siblings, Marlene Noll of Muscatine, IA, Francis Lindemann and wife Jan of Charlotte, IA, and Karen Fatchett and husband Bill of DeWitt, IA, and her sister in law, Bonnie Hulse of Waukee, IA; her children, Marcia Smith and husband Michael of Jefferson City, MO, David Pierce of Coralville, IA, and Lori Bower and husband George of Spirit Lake, IA; grandchildren, Caleb Smith, Hannah Smith, Drew Freerksen, Ethan Pierce, Abby Wilson, Richard Wilson III and wife Becky, Max Bower, and great-grandchildren, Kadi and Aubrey Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Beryl Lindemann; husband Dale Pierce; and son-in-law Richard Wilson Jr.

A Memorial Service will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 1, 2025, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Williamsburg. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm Friday, February 28, 2025, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for Iowa Miss Amazing, Donate to Iowa Miss Amazing here, Compass Memorial Healthcare and Highland Ridge Willowcreek Memory Care Unit. Messages may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Powell Funeral Home & Crematory in Williamsburg is caring for Shirley and her family. 

All text and images © Powell Funeral Homes. No content from this page may be copied, reproduced, or published elsewhere without explicit permission.