Kay Shirk

Kay Shirk, age 78, of Marshalltown, passed away on the morning of Friday, January 31, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown with her husband at her side.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 6, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be one-hour prior to the services. The family encourages casual dress. Private family interment will be in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com.

Born Kay Hurtt on August 27, 1946, in Eldora, Iowa, she was one of four daughters born to Floyd and Helen (Rolph) Hurtt. She attended Albion Public Schools and graduated from the Marshalltown High School with the class of 1964.

Being raised around her parent’s grocery store in Albion became a big part of her life. Walking there after school soon became less lonely when a young boy by the name of Gary Shirk, began walking her, probably around third grade. These school sweethearts, not just high school sweethearts, were united in marriage on June 16, 1967, at the Hillside Church of Christ in Marshalltown as the first couple married in the newly finished church.

When the young couple returned from their honeymoon to their new house in Albion, they found the contractor and Mr. Shirk walking out the front door upon completion and Gary was able to carry his new bride across the threshold. They made this their home for 9 years until moving to the Sand Road for 20 years, then to Florida in 1996. Kay and Gary returned to Marshalltown in 2002 to be near family after some health issues. Kay valiantly fought cancer twice and a number of surgeries in her lifetime.

Kay was employed by Dr.’s Long, Clawson and Maas eye care in Marshalltown and Fisher Controls before dedicating the coming years to raising her family. She later returned to Fishers, did office management at the Church of Christ in Kissimmee, FL, and McFarland Clinic in Marshalltown. Kay was a faithful member of New Hope Christian Church and dedicated her life to helping others. She enjoyed reading and time spent with her family.

Left to cherish her memory are Gary, her loving husband of 57 years, her daughter Damie (Kyle) Niederhauser of rural Marshalltown and son Jason (Jenny) Shirk of Montezuma; grandchildren- Kylee (Daniel) Jones, Emily (Jeremy) Johnson, Weston Shirk (Brooke Hall), Shelby Shirk, Bailee Kay Niederhauser (Colton Wilson), Alex Niederhauser and Cora Ann Niederhauser, as well as seven great-grandchildren, her sister Dixie McKibben and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Also surviving are her brother-in-law Ed (Lilla) Shirk and sister-in-law Nancy Shirk.

In death, Kay rejoined her parents and sisters Barbara Trim and Nancy Dole.