Shirley Overaas
January 24, 1928 - March 6, 2008

Shirley Jean Overaas was born on January 24, 1928, in Christiania Township, Jackson County, Minnesota to the late Cyril and Gea (Brenne) Olson. She was baptized on March 25, 1928 in Windom and later confirmed at the American Lutheran Church in Windom. Shirley grew up on a farm outside of Windom and received her education in country school in District 53 of rural Windom and later graduated from Windom High School in 1945.

In 1948, she was united in marriage to Duane Overaas. After marriage, they lived on a farm north of Jackson. This marriage was blessed with four children, Lynne, Russell, Cheryl, and Connie. This marriage was later dissolved. For twelve years, Shirley worked as a bookkeeper for Town & Country Insurance and Real Estate in Jackson. For many years, Shirley enjoyed "wintering?" in Texas. Since the mid-1990?s, Shirley had been living in Windom and on March 6, 2008, she passed away suddenly at her home in Windom at the age of 80.

Shirley was a longtime member of the American Lutheran Church in Windom. She taught Sunday School in her earlier years at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson. She belonged to several organizations outside of the church which included the VFW Auxiliary, 4-H, Windom Eagles Club, and the Windom Senior Center. Shirley will be remembered as a "joker", and someone who enjoyed watching the "Young and the Restless" gave great hugs, and loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Shirley's dedicated family who mourns her loss includes her four children, Lynne Johnson of Eagan; Russell (Millie) Overaas of LeSueur; Cheryl (Bob) Dekker of Phoenix; Connie (Jim) Worshek of Prior Lake; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; one sister and one brother, Lavonne (Fritz) Fett of Windom; Harlan (Eileen) Olson of Ft. Hills, AZ; and many more relatives and friends to numerous to mention.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents.

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