Shirley A. Slota, 86, of LeMars, IA and formerly of Remsen, IA, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 at Unity Point Health St. Lukes Hospital in Sioux City, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Father William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be at Holy Name Cemetery in Marcus, IA. Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday. There will be a parish rosary and vigil prayer service all at 5 p.m. at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.
Shirley was born Oct. 1, 1931 at rural Cherokee County, IA, the daughter of Wilson & Mildred (Clow) Perry. She was raised in rural Cherokee County. She attended Aurelia High School, graduating in 1949. She then attended the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City, IA and graduated in 1952 with an RN Degree.
In 1953 she married Gerald T. Slota at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Sioux City, IA. To this union seven children were born. Gerald died on June 12, 1967 as a result of an automobile accident.
On Jan. 12, 1974 she married Max VanBuskirk, who passed away in an automobile accident shortly after.
In 1987 she married L.J. Alesch who is also deceased.
She lived in rural Cherokee county until her marriage. She spent the early years of her marriage in California. She then lived at a farm south of Remsen from 1957-1991. She worked at the Cherokee Mental health Institute as a registered nurse for 30 years. She was currently living in LeMars, IA.
Shirley was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish in LeMars, IA. She volunteered over 3000 hours at Park Place Estates and Floyd Valley Hospital. She also donated 29 gallons of Platelets over the years.
Survivors include her four children, Dennis (Linda) Slota, Geralyn Gengler and fiancé Tom Haverkamp, Michael (Terri) Slota all of Remsen, IA, Calvin (Jane) Slota of Marshall, WI; 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; 3 husbands, 3 sons in infancy, Jerome Arnold in 1955, Ricky Lynn in 1956 and Bernard Lee in 1957, her brother, Duane Perry.
Casket bearers will be her grandchildren, Tina & Ashley Slota, Eric, Jeremy & Josh Gengler, Courtney Eggers, Rosa Steinbrecker & Adam Slota.