Shirley M. Rhoades

Shirley Mae Rhoades, 98, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
Services will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Bird House.
Shirley was born on April 29, 1924, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Howard and Mabel Kingsbury. After graduating from East High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Shirley married Donald Rhoades on February 20, 1943. Shirley and Don were married 70 years upon Don's death in 2013. They have three children, eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Shirley dedicated her life to serving her God and family. She always thought of others first and how she could make a difference in their lives. She believed, and taught her family, to give your very best every day, ask for forgiveness when you slip up and commit to doing better the next day. She instilled in her children that family comes first, be respectful of others and do not judge, keep your standards high and lead by example. She was given the nickname "the beast" because she was so strong spiritually, physically and mentally. Of course, she was also given that name because she would stand up for what she believed was right, particularly if it had to do with her family. Her children have many fond memories of mother facing off with someone if they had not acted appropriately. It was a matter of principle and a teaching moment for us.
Shirley lived an incredible life. She was a woman of strength and grace. She was raising her two sons alone at the age of nineteen as her husband fought in WWII. She lived through the Great Depression and two pandemics. She lived in houses that had no indoor plumbing and learned to cook on a potbellied stove. After the war, she and Don moved from Sioux City to Zionsville, Indiana living close to Don's family. Eventually they landed in Iowa City where they built their first home and put down roots for fifteen years. They moved to Eugene, Oregon for eight years but their hearts longed to be back in Iowa where they both lived out their lives. If drawn on paper, Shirley's life would look like the Maple tree, always strong but bending and changing colors to match the beauty of her soul. The far-reaching branches are those blessed to have been part of her life and she remains our firm foundation.
Shirley's family celebrates her life and look forward to when we will be together again in our final heavenly life.