Shirley Darleen Pickel was born September 22, 1927, to Orlie and Hazel (Vibber) Bronson. She passed away Monday, September 16, 2024, with her family at her side.
Shirley grew up on a farm north of Kensington, KS and graduated from Kensington High School. While working in Phillipsburg, KS, she met Wayne Pickel, and they were married December 8, 1945. To this union, two daughters, Sonya and Mary and one son, J.D., were born. Due to Wayne’s government job, the family moved every five years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years; parents; three sisters; four brothers; one son-in-law; daughter-in-law; and one granddaughter.
Survivors are her children, Sonya Graf, Mary Marble, and J.D. Pickel; sister, Velda Rae Menard; four grandsons, Jim Marble (Cyndi), Rodney Graf (Amy), Shane Pickel (Anna), and Coy Pickel; great-grandchildren, Mariah (Austin), Jordan, Megan (Brad), Ashley, Alyssa, Zane, Landon, Tyler, Katavion, and Matt; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family wants to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Jordan Veenendaal, Dr. DeWitt, and all the nurses and staff at the Ottawa County Health Center for their great and loving care of Shirley.
The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 A.M., Monday, September 23 at Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be in Crown Point Cemetery, Culver. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ottawa County Health Center or the Bennington Senior Center and may be left in care of the funeral home.