Shirley Jolaine (Kraft) Place

Published November 17, 2018 at 6:38 PM

Services for Shirley Jolaine (Kraft) Place of Lakefield, MN, will be Saturday, December 1st at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation November 30th 4-6 p.m., all at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield. Shirley passed away on November 14th, 2018 at Doman Rose Place, Lakefield, MN at the age of 83 years.

Shirley Jolaine Kraft was born to Edwin and Edith (Pohlman) Kraft on September 15, 1935 in West Heron Lake Township, Jackson County, MN. She was an only child who longed for a sibling, but fondly remembered play dates with cousins and friends.

Shirley grew up at 712 Milwaukee Street. She was a Girl Scout in her younger years and attended school in Lakefield where she was an active member of the Lakefield band in which she played the alto saxophone. She participated in many high school music contests, often receiving a superior rating. During high school, Shirley worked at the Home Store in Lakefield and was crowned Homecoming Queen before graduating in 1953.

When Wesley Place first asked Shirley for a date, she stood him up because she had heard how "wild" those Sioux Valley boys could be. Not one to take chances, this must have been the one time Shirley threw caution to the wind, as on August 29, 1953 Shirley and Wes were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield. They made their home on a farm in Sioux Valley (Rost township) where they raised mink, various livestock and crops.

Wes and Shirley were blessed with four children: Lori, Scott, Amy and Alison.

Having been raised as a town girl, Shirley adapted well to becoming a farm wife. She was creative with her hands and her family was on the receiving end of her talents. Her large flower gardens earned her many compliments from friends and passers by and brought her joy. She entered many of her flowers and other handiwork at the Jackson County Fair throughout the years. She was gifted at sewing, creating dresses for her daughters for school and special occasions.

She was an excellent cook and known especially for her wonderful pies and canned dill pickles.

Not one to rush to the doctor, if anyone experienced an ache or broken bone she was quick to offer her sage advice of "take a hot bath" or "eat something...you'll feel better".

Shirley was involved in Garden Club, Nurse's Auxiliary, Ladies Aid and served on the boards of the Jackson County Library and Jackson County Historical Society. She taught bible school for several years and was a piano accompanist on occasion for her children's Christmas programs. Even though she was busy with farm life, she found the time to be a county township assessor for many years.

After retirement from farming, Wes and Shirley enjoyed setting up their booth at craft shows and farmers markets where they sold produce, her homemade bread as well as Wes' wood creations.

On June 14, 1989 Wes passed away after a two year battle with esophageal cancer.

Shirley was an active member at Grace Lutheran Church/Ewington Township. She enjoyed coffee gatherings before church and visiting with the many friends she made there.

Shirley will be remembered for her kind and gentle nature.

Shirley is survived by her children: Lori (Steve) Pomerenke, Fairmont, MN, Scott (Linda) Place, Lakefield, MN, Amy (Jerry) Schlager, Jackson, MN and Alison (Jeff) Stumpf, Lakefield, MN.

She was very proud of her 15 grandchildren: Jared (Tanya) Pomerenke, Grant (Kristie) Pomerenke, Tyler (Kendra) Pomerenke, Vanessa Pomerenke, Derek (Amanda) Place, Evan (DeTasha) Place, Riley (Caitlin) Place, Alyssa (Jordan) Burmeister, Angela (Chris) Naumann, Natalie Schlager, Grant Schlager, Nathan Schlager, Sofia Stumpf, Calvin Stumpf, Holden Stumpf. She was blessed with 15 great grandchildren, Carson, Merritt, Archer, Adler, Viera and Fitzgerald Pomerenke; Ava, Clara, Kade and Marlena Place; Finley, Laurel and Johanna Burmeister; Lucy and Sullivan Naumann.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law Verlene "Tootie" Walsh, four nephews, one niece and special friend Elgin Schmidt.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edwin, her mother, Edith, and her husband, Wesley.

Memorials preferred to Doman Rose Place, Jackson County Historical Society or PAWS (Precious Animal Worth Saving) in Jackson, MN.