Shirley Hesse

The kind and loving presence of Shirley Hesse, age 92, of Marshalltown, most recently Des Moines, left this earthly life on Thursday, April 23rd, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines with family at her side.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 28th, at the Hope United Methodist Church with Pastor Dani Musselman officiating. She will be laid to rest in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Monday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home.

Born Shirley Hannan on August 26th, 1933, in Waterloo, Iowa, at Allen Hospital, she was the daughter of Thomas Francis and Gladys Elizabeth (Johnston) Hannan. She received her education in the Cedar Falls Public Schools.

On October 14th, 1950, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Kenneth “Pete” Hesse in Albert Lea, MN. The couple made their home in Mason City for three years, Cedar Falls for the next three years before moving to Marshalltown. Mrs. Hesse was an active member of the community, a loving wife and mother and had a strong work ethic. She was employed at Marshalltown Trowel, Pete’s Texaco and as a bus driver for the Marshalltown Schools. She was a faithful and longtime charter member of Hope United Methodist Church along with Church Women United, Girl Scouts of America, Lioness, American Legion Auxiliary, and TOPS. With the passing of her son, Craig, in 1986, she became an advocate for grieving parents with the newly established Compassionate Friends Marshalltown Chapter.

Shirley enjoyed life to the fullest. Camping, traveling, and wintering in Texas, visiting California and Arizona, collecting spoons and her favorite- shot glasses! She always had an appreciation for spring as that was a season for new beginnings, so it is somewhat appropriate she could rejoin her beloved Pete and Craig during that season.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Marilyn Calhoun of Marana, AZ and Duane Hesse of Des Moines, grandchildren- Troy Eygabroad of Waukee, Mindy Campbell of Las Vegas and Travis (Tina) Eygabroad of Rock Island, IL, 12 great grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, her sister Jean Hannan of Knoxville, TN, her sister-in-law Shari (Keith) Hannan of West Des Moines, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In death, she rejoined her parents; husband Pete, son Craig and two brothers- Loren Hannan and Keith Hannan as well as her son-in-law, Jerry Calhoun.