Shirley Stapleton

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Shirley Stapleton
Jefferson, Iowa
Date of Death: May 9, 2025
A Memorial Service for Shirley Stapleton, 76, of Jefferson will be 4:00 pm on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. The family will greet friends at the First Presbyterian Church prior to the service from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to Main Street Matters in Jefferson or the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson.
Shirley Ann (Thoreson) Stapleton was born January 16,1949, to Beryle (Twedt) and Curtis Thoreson in Jewell, Iowa. She transitioned from this life to the next on May 9, 2025. Growing up on the family farm north of Ellsworth, she developed a strong work ethic and a passion for service. Friends and acquaintances in Jefferson would find it hard to believe that she was a quiet, even shy child; as an adult her dry sense of humor and pithy quips became her signature characteristics.
As a youth Shirley was active in Girl Scouting, eventually working as a summer camp counselor and director at Lakota Girl Scout Camp. Her youth was adventurous as a primary driver of "the Crutch," a blue Chevy station wagon that shuttled siblings, cousins, and friends to school and on harmless exploits.
Following graduation from South Hamilton High School she continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in Special Education. She began her teaching career in the Jefferson School District where she taught students with special needs for almost four decades.
On June 24, 1989, Shirley married Craig Stapleton and in December of 1990 they welcomed David. Shirley and David lost Craig in February of 2008. Throughout the years Shirley has honored Craig's memory as she created and donated quilts to the Jefferson Rotary Club auction, organized the Greene County Relay for Life event many times, created displays in the window of the Masonic Lodge, and filled an Ideal stock tank (the family business) in her front yard with seasonal floral displays.
In addition to a full teaching career, Shirley was active in P.E.O., Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Community Players of Greene County, and the Jefferson Matters design committee. Shirley was a founding member of the "Why Not Us," a women's investment group that restored a corner building on the Jefferson square. Active as a deacon, choir member, and "funeral lady" at First Presbyterian Church, Shirley's passion for children extended to years of work with the middle school group Christ's Kids. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting, reading, knitting, gardening, traveling, attending the theater, eating out with friends, and spending time with David and extended family.
Shirley is survived by her son David, sisters Arlie (Jay) Willems and Teresa (Mike) McCormack; her "bonus" sister Jackie (Gary) Hatcher; sisters-in-law Lynn Steele, Ann (Ken) Schmidt, Jane (Jerry) Maher, Sue Grenier, and Lori Thoreson; Uncle Don Twedt and Aunt Betty McClain; nieces and nephews Nate (Maggie) Willems, Megan Zuazua, Spencer Willems, Torin (Brittany) McCormack, Garrett (Jennifer) Schmidt-McCormack, Mackenzie (Nate) Gilman, Adam Coyne, Katy (Kelly) Calvert, Mary Tejada, Meredith (Robert) Dohmen, Matthew (Andrea Jensen) Steele, Jody Flores, Jenny (Michael) Middleton, Jayson (Kelly) Feaker; many great and great, great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Craig, parents Curt and Beryle Thoreson, brother Vernon Thoreson, mother-in-law and father-in law Mary and Henry Stapleton, brother-in-law J.R. Grenier, niece Jackie Coyne, and beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Shirley enjoyed wide circles of friends, too numerous to list, some as close as family. She will be remembered lovingly as a tower of strength for her family and a true servant to her church and community, and for her quick wit and her dedication to children of all ages and abilities.
Memorials may be made to Jefferson Matters, First Presbyterian Church, or your chosen charity.
"When the lessons we have been sent here to teach have all been taught,.. then we go home."
(Curt Thoreson, June of 1987, to his niece Barbara as she mourned her father.)
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.sliningerschroeder.com.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home
515-386-2171