Shirley A. Halbach 78, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Rural Reinbeck. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary Service being conducted at 6:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Shirley was born on August 2, 1935 in Rural Iowa Falls, IA, the daughter of John and Helen (Hofmann) Schafer. She graduated from Ackley High School with the Class of 1953. She then attended the Hamilton Business School in Mason City and graduated in 1954. Shirley was united in marriage to Bill Halbach on July 13, 1957 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ackley, Iowa. Together they welcomed eight children into their family.
Shirley was a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church and a former member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Grundy Center. She enjoyed sewing, reading, embroidery and baking. Her true joy in life came from her family, especially her husband, children and grandchildren.
Shirley is survived by her husband Bill; her children David (Sue) Halbach of White Water, WI, Steven Halbach of Waterloo, IA, Susan Halbach of Grundy Center, IA, Linda (Jason) Sash of Ankeny, IA, Kathleen Halbach of North Liberty, IA and Mary (David) Sents of Winterset, IA; her grandchildren Ashley and Brian Halbach, Nicholas, Mikayla, Isabelle and Anna Sash, Matthew and Michael Sents; her brothers John (Judy) Schafer of Ackley, IA and Robert (Raejean) Schafer of Iowa Falls, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents and infant twin sons, Richard and Robert.