Obituaries 10 March 2021

Shirley A. Ptacek, 87

Shirley A. Ptacek, age 87, of Cresco and formerly of Lourdes, passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Howard County Regional Health Services in Cresco.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes,  with Father Jerry Kopacek celebrating the Mass. Please join the family at 11 a.m. Friday on Conway-Markham Funeral Home's Facebook page for a livestream of the funeral mass.  There will be visitation at the church from 9:30-11 a.m. prior to the funeral mass on Friday.  Burial will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Shirley Ann was born June 6, 1933, the daughter of Bernard “Ben” and Anna (Daley) Kramer in Elma, IA.  She attended country school before graduating from St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista.  After graduating, Shirley attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA.  Between her first year and second year at college, Shirley worked as a long distance telephone operator in Mason City.  As she finished her college career, she met her future husband, Clement Ptacek at a dance in Spillville, IA.  The couple were united in marriage April 2, 1956 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista.  The couple made their home in rural Lourdes on what’s now known as the Ptacek farm.  Together they farmed side by side and welcomed their four children, Julie, Rick, Denny, and Jo.  They retired in 1993, moving to Cresco. In their retirement they enjoyed their family and spending time together.  Shirley was an avid painter, gardener, and spoiled her family with her homemade kolaches and rohliky. 
 Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Julie (Ken) Balk of West Union, IA, Rick (Lynn) of Mason City, IA, Denny (Mary) Ptacek of Lourdes, Jo (DeWayne) Purdy of Dike, IA; her grandchildren, Matthew (Amy) Balk, Liz (Nick) Kofron, Joe Balk, Logan (Nichole) Ptacek, Dylan (Hannah) Ptacek, Ben Purdy, Emily Purdy and Austin Ptacek; sister-in-law, Theresa Dumsky and Kathy Ptacek and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in by her parents; her husband, Clem in 1999; and her siblings, Mercedes Hentges and Norbert Kramer and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
 

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