Appleby, Shirley

Shirley Appleby, 76, of Monticello, died Sunday, July 31, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 4, at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Shirley Alice Bass was born May 22, 1935, in Fayette County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Farrell and Helen (Nelson) Bass. She graduated from Fayette High School in 1953. She married James Anderson, they later divorced. Shirley married James Appleby Sr. on April 29, 1961, at Monmouth, Ill., they made their home in Anamosa, until his death in 1990. She retired in 1990, from Rockwell Collins after 37 years of service, as a quality engineer in the Government Department. Shirley moved to Monticello in 1991. She enjoyed many cruises and traveling with her long time companion, Norbert Averkamp until his death in 2010. In 2010, she moved to East Towne Care Center in Independence.

Surviving are four brothers, James (Mary) Bass, West Union, Richard (Alda Vae) Bass, Elk Run Heights, Robert Bass, Arlington, and Gary (Betty) Bass, Oelwein; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Appleby Sr.; two sons, James Jr. and John; three babies in infancy, Rhonda and Kevin and Jerry Anderson; a sister, Beverley Cousins; and a brother, LaVerne Bass.

Also deceased by her long time companion, Norbert Averkamp, she was blessed with his loving family, Deb (Fred) Wahl, Diane (Terry) VanNatta and Mike Averkamp and Norbert's three grandchildren.

Shirley was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Monticello.