Shirley Ilene Blase

Shirley Ilene Blase, 89, of Central City, died on Monday, February 1, 2016 at Litzenberg Long Term Care in Central City. Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 6th at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Polk, with Rev. Kevin McReynolds officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, February 5th from 5-7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Shirley Ilene was born on February 25, 1926 in Peoria, Illinois to Harold Robert and Dorothy Edith (Dale) Thomas. Shirley grew up in East Peoria, Illinois, and following her schooling she began working at the Caterpillar Plant. In 1944 she met a soldier, by the name of Harold Blase, and they were then married on October 21, 1944 in El Paso, Texas. Following his service, Shirley and Harold moved back to Peoria and remained there until 1947. They then moved their family to various places around Hordville, eventually settling on their “home place” which they purchased in 1965. Shirley and Harold sold their farm in 1972, and moved to Hordville. She then began working at Bethesda in Central City as a nurse’s aide until 1984. Shirley took a lot of pride in her work at Bethesda. In 2001 they moved to Central City, where she would remain until her death. Shirley was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Polk, as well as being a member of the Ladies Aid at her church for many years. She had a special gift in her ability to crochet, she made many afghans over the years, for all of her family and many friends. She also enjoyed putting together puzzles, doing ceramics, playing board games with her grandchildren, as well as going to all their sporting events, and other activities they were involved in. Shirley enjoyed going on trips with Harold, especially to his army reunions. Her greatest love was definitely for her family, as she was definitely the glue that held them all together. Those left to cherish her memory are her children; Sandy and Duane DeMers of Hordville, Bob and Avis Blase of Osceola, Randy and Jan Blase of Central City, and Rod and Cindy Blase of Hordville; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; Harold, her son and daughter-in-law; Rick and Sherri Blase, her sister; Betty Badorek, and infant sister; Donna Dale.

Shirley Ilene Blase

February 25, 1926 - February 1, 2016