Shirley L. McDonald

HURLEY - Shirley L. McDonald, 94, of Ironwood, Mich., died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, with her family by her side.

The former Shirley Van Stratum was born Dec. 6, 1920, in Hurley, daughter of the late Dr. Byron and Ruth (Goodman) Van Stratum. She attended St. Ambrose Catholic Grade School in Ironwood through the eighth grade and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1938. She then graduated from Ironwood Junior College (now Gogebic Community College) in 1940 and later attended the Woodward Business School.

On Christmas Day, 1941, Shirley was united in marriage to William B. McDonald at the St. Mary's rectory in Hurley.

Throughout the years, Shirley had been an extremely active member of the community. While in high school, she worked at McLellan's 5 & 10, J.C. Penney Co. and taught swimming at Camp Plagens. After finishing college, she worked as a secretary for Employers Mutual Insurance.

In 1961, Shirley started working as the bookkeeper at Gambles Store. When they closed, she transferred to Liberty Loan and then to Gogebic National Bank. The bank later changed to First of America, then to National City and now to River Valley State Bank. She retired in 1982 after working there for 20 years.

While her children were young, Shirley volunteered with the Cub Scouts, Boy and Girl Scouts, PTA and the High School Committee for Consolidation. Later she worked with the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce and the Grand View Hospital Auxiliary and Board.

She was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and the former St. Ambrose Church and Parish Council, past president of the Ironwood Woman's Club, and a member of Ironwood Area Business and Professional Women, GARC, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. More recently she served with the Ironwood City Board of Review, the Gogebic County Social Services Board and the Ironwood Housing Commission.

Shirley's never-ending commitment, enthusiasm and energy also lent itself to her work with Gogebic Community College, the Alumni Association and, in 1977, she became a founding member of the GCC Foundation. She was recognized as Outstanding Community Volunteer by the Foundation several years ago at their annual recognition banquet held at the college.

Surviving are a son, William B. II (Karen), Cottage Grove, Minn .; two daughters, Deborah (Dennis) Routheaux and Linda (Dennis) Ellos, both of Ironwood Township; 10 grandchildren, Kristen (James) Hebert, Gary Henningsen, William B. (Christine) McDonald III, Rebecca McDonald, Jenny Routheaux (Pat) Riley, Ryan (Wendy) Routheaux, Timothy Routheaux, Janey Routheaux (Josh Talberg), Cody (Laura) Ellos and Chad (Nicole) Ellos; 12 great-grandchildren, Christopher and Victoria Hebert, Tristan Henningsen, Mason and Payton McDonald, Ryan and Rylee Routheaux, Parker Riley, Cayden, Connor and Colton Ellos, and Dominic Ellos, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her husband, William B. McDonald; daughter, Mary Ann Naylor; brother, Fritz Van Stratum; and three sisters, Gretchen Birge, Elizabeth Arnold and Mary Grace Santoro.

Shirley was a loving and caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to all. She will be greatly missed.

Per her wishes, cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, in the St. Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

Luncheon will be served in the parish hall upon return from the cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center, Beacon Ambulance and Avanti for the wonderful care given to our mother over the past seven years.