Shirley May (Ernst) Matt

Monday, May 8, 2017 4:22 pm

Shirley May (Ernst) Matt, 89, of Cresco, passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco. Funeral services were Monday, May 8, at 11 a.m., at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. Friends called from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, as well as one hour prior to services at the church. Burial was in the New Oregon Cemetery in rural Cresco.

Shirley was born May 29, 1927, on a farm in Winneshiek County, to Charles and Helena (Bergmann) Ernst. She attended country school in Winneshiek County. She married LeRoy “Bud” Matt Nov. 21, 1945, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco.

They farmed in the Cresco area and moved to Cresco in 1965. Shirley helped her husband operate the bowling alley before working at the Howard-Winneshiek School District for 29 years, from which she retired.

She enjoyed going to the casino, playing cards and spending time with her family — especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by four children: Dick (Jane) of Windsor, Colo., Dean (Rosie) of Cresco, Deanna (Larry) Stevenson of Decorah and Steve (Connie) of Cresco; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren with another due in June; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; five brothers; a sister and a brother in infancy; and one great-granddaughter.