Shirley J. Dunham

Shirley J. Dunham, 84, formerly of Le Grand, currently residing at the Westown Apartments in Marshalltown, died Sunday, July 24, 2011, at the Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 28, at the Le Grand Friends Church with Pastor Alan Mullikin officiating. Shirley will be laid to rest in the Le Grand Friends Cemetery. Visitation for Shirley will be held from 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 27, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home.For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Shirley and her family. Shirley was born September 1, 1926, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Maude (Parsons) Overstake. She was raised and educated in Le Grand, graduating from the Le Grand High School. On March 4, 1944, in Reno, Nevada, she was united in marriage to George E. Dunham Jr. Following their marriage they made their home in Le Grand all of their married lives until moving to the Westown Apartments in Marshalltown in June of 2005. In addition to raising and caring for her family and helping on the family farm, Shirley was employed with Bjellands Plumbing for several years, Midland Transportation, and Masons Furniture Store. Shirley enjoyed watching all sports, especially those her grandchildren were participating in. She loved to be on the go and to socialize with all of her friends especially her Monday card group in Le Grand and her Wednesday card group in Marshalltown. Above all else Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all in her life and will be dearly missed by everyone she touched. Shirley was a very active member of the Le Grand Friends Church with her family where she served her church family in several different areas over the years including teaching Sunday school during her younger years. Left to celebrate her life are her children: Terry (Linda) Dunham of rural Marshalltown, Barry Dunham of rural Marshalltown and Vicki Skopp of Marshalltown, her daughter-in-law Susy Dunham of Marshalltown, her six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, her siblings: Joe (Betty) Overstake of Le Grand, Doyle (Nancy) Overstake of Kingman, Arizona, and her sister-in-law Pat Overstake of DeWitt, Iowa. In death Shirley has rejoined her parents, Clarence and Maude, her husband George E. Dunham Jr., her son Don Dunham, her siblings: Betty Nicholson, Jack Overstake and Darrell Overstake and son-in-law Tom Skopp.