Shirley Rayl

Shirley Rayl, 82, of Des Moines, formerly of Bridgewater passed away peacefully Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Bright Kavanaugh House in Des Moines.

Shirley Jean Queck Rayl was born March 2, 1939, to loving parents Harold Alfred Queck and Evelyn Doris Worthington Queck, in their home in Jackson Township in rural Fontanelle. Shirley attended country school from kindergarten through 8th grade, graduating from Fontanelle High School in 1957 as class valedictorian.

Shirley was active in 4-H and church activities at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle where she was baptized, confirmed and married.

After she graduated from high school, Shirley moved to Des Moines and attended nursing school at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, graduating as a registered nurse in 1960.

During her early adult years, she fell in love with and married Marion Evan Rayl, Monday, Oct. 17, 1960, which is also Evan’s birthday. In 1962, their daughter Renae Jean was born and in 1964, their first son Thomas Evan was born. Steven Evan was born in 1970.

Shirley’s faith was very important to her all her life. She was active at Emmanuel Lutheran in Fontanelle, Immanuel Lutheran in Greenfield, a charter member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair and served as the coordinator of the church services at Ramsey Village.

Shirley worked at the Adair County Hospital as an operating room nurse. Upon moving to Adair in 1971, she became the bookkeeper for husband Evan’s company, Iowa Star Silos. In 1982 she became a clinic nurse for Dr. Coatney in Anita. After his retirement, she worked as a mental health nurse at Cass County Hospital in Atlantic until her retirement in 2001.

She served as a 4-H leader for 10 years, starting the Summit Sunbeams Girls Club in Adair County. After retiring, she served as a parish nurse for Emmanuel Lutheran, where she held many grief classes. She was also a SHIIP volunteer.

Left to cherish her beautiful memory are her husband, Marion Evan; daughter Renae (Edward) Chesnut of Johnston; son Thomas (Jody) Rayl of Mitchellville; son Steven (Dawn) Rayl of Altoona; grandchildren: Blane Chesnut of Carter Lake, Brooke Rayl (Jeremy) Heimbaugh of Mitchellville, Taylor Chesnut of St. Louis, Missouri, Wyatt Raylof of Ames and Garrett Rayl of Altoona; great-grandchild Gannon Heimbaugh of Mitchellville; her sister Chyleen (Paul) Pauesick of Kansas City, Kansas; brother-in-law Lyle Lutz of Falcon Heights, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Margaret Queck of Corning and Karen Rayl Sawhill of Urbandale; several nieces and nephews.

Shirley was welcomed into heaven by her parents, Harold and Evelyn, sister Lavon Lutz, brother Gerald Queck, and brothers-in-law Allen Howard and John Sawhill.

Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Monday, May 3, 2021, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, with burial in Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor Steven Broers and Bruce Gowen will officiate the service. Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle was in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfuenrals.com.

Memorials may be directed to Shirley Rayl memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.