116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Shirley Gwendolyn Funte (Steitz)
Shirley Gwendolyn Funte (Steitz)
Monticello
Shirley Gwendolyn Funte (Steitz) 76, of Monticello, passed away Friday evening, Sept. 15, 2023, at Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, after shortly being diagnosed with cancer.
Per her wishes, she was cremated and to honor such a spectacular soul, close family and friends are to gather for her Celebration of Life on Oct. 15, 2023.
Shirley was born on Oct. 16, 1946, to Russell and Helen Steitz of LaMoille, Iowa. Shirley graduated from Thomas Jefferson High school in 1965. Post grad, she worked for Rockwell Collins for three years prior to choosing to start a family. During Shirley’s life she had many professions. She was a Farm Wife, a Food Server in Amana, a Stanley Dealer, an Amway Distributor and an avid Tupperware Representative. In 1988 she earned her certification in nursing as a CNA/Home Health Aide from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids Iowa. 1998 she also acquired her chauffeurs license.
She cherished life and lived as brightly as she could. She was a fighter, a true survivor, mentor to many and nurturer. She was always willing to go the distance for others be they friend or stranger. She lived for family, the Follies and loved the stage. Music and art flowed naturally throughout her, an extremely talented woman.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Helen Steitz; eldest brother, Dick Clar of Delhi, Marlyn “Marty” Steitz; and her son, Brian “Bossman” Smith of Marion.
She is survived by her children, Michelle A. Fitzgerald (Evan), Kevin D. Smith (Joni Saboe), Derrick C. Smith (Kjersten) and Crystal K. Dingle; her siblings, Charles Steitz (Julie),Wanda Lunn (Bill), Dennis Steitz (Amy), Pam Delaney (Bill), Ron Steitz (Deb) and Jerry Sonkens (Nancy); nine grandchildren; and many nieces ,nephews and cousins.
It is next to impossible to truly offer justice in written word for a soul such as hers. She will be forever missed by the souls of the lives she touched and there are many. She was a firework, booming with bright light, her presence very known; never to be forgotten.
Online condolences, shared memories maybe extended to her Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/shirley.funte.
Daily Newsletters