Shirley Jeanette Kiefert

SHIRLEY JEANETTE KIEFERT March 29, 1937 - March 6, 2015 Shirley Jeanette Kiefert, age 77, a long time Park Rapids-Menahga, MN area resident, passed from this life to eternal life, very unexpectedly, on Friday night, March 6th, 2015 at the St. Joseph's Area Hospital in Park Rapids. Shirley was born on March 29, 1937 near St. Peter, MN to Happy and Pauline (Belcher) Wilmes. She attended the Lake Crystal Public School until her family moved to the Park Rapids area when she was a young teenager. She then went on to attend the Park Rapids Public High School. On August 30, 1969, Shirley was united in marriage to her soul mate and best friend, Myren Joseph Kiefert in Park Rapids. Together, they were blessed with nine children: Barb, Steve, Connie, Carol, LeRoy, Nyla, Susan, Judy and Nancy. She devoted herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious "Mrs Haley's Hotdish" and other delicious homemade dishes. In addition to caring for her family, Shirley also worked outside the home for a number of years as a sales clerk at the Konshok Department Store in Park Rapids and also at the Park Rapids Municipal Airport. She loved searching for treasure at local garage sales and flea markets. Shirley enjoyed the outdoors; especially, when she could be out working in her flower gardens nurturing her plants into colorful splendor. She also enjoyed feeding and watching her hummingbirds, orioles and bluebirds. In fact, each year she fed over 40 lbs of sugar and 12-14 jars of grape jelly on top of the hundreds of pounds of wild bird seed she filled her feeders with. She also loved animals; especially her faithful dog, Dino and her persnikity cat, Flossie. In addition, Shirley enjoyed trying her luck at an occasional evening at the casino. Her life was deeply saddened with the sudden death of her daughter, Carol in December of 2002. Shirley loved people and especially enjoyed stopping for coffee at the Great Northern Café to visit with her many friends. Shirley was a strong minded, strong willed woman, who never put on airs for anyone. She befriended whoever she met and never knew a stranger. Shirley treasured the time spent with her family who she loved with all her heart. Her million dollar smile, her quick wit and her infectious laughter will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Myren "Mike" Kiefert of Menahga; her eight children: Barb (Wayne) Hildebrandt of Osage, Steve Paulson of Park Rapids, Connie Paulson of Philadelphia, PA, LeRoy (Sandy) Paulson of Osage, MN, Nyla (Daniel) James of San Antonio, TX, Susan (Ron) Petrie of Park Rapids, Judy (Randy) Petrie of Stillwater, MN and Nancy Dickinson of Park Rapids; as well as 24 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Janet who died in infancy and her daughter, Carol. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids. Special musical tributes of "When I Get Where I'm Going", "I Can Only Imagine", "Wind Beneath My Wings", "On The Wings Of A Snow White Dove" and "Silver Wings" will be played in memory of Shirley. The active casket bearers will be: David Dickinson, Derek Dickinson, Cindy Horton, Kim Ennen, Stephanie Paulson, Jamis Paulson, Cody Paulson and Cara Paulson. The honorary casketbearers will be the rest of Shirley's grandchildren. Interment will be made in the Kiefert family plot at the Greenwood Cemetery of Park Rapids. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Wednesday at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and will continue beginning one hour prior to the service on Thursday. A luncheon will be hosted by the Calvary Lutheran Church following the service. To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute, please visit www.jonespearson.com