Shirley Baarda, 84, of Sully, passed away peace-fully on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, surrounded by family after a three-year battle with cancer. Shirley was a member of Sully First Reformed Church. Her faith was an important part of her life.
A funeral service was held Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Sully First Reformed Church. Burial was in Sully Cemetery following the funeral service.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lake View Camp in Marion County or Hospice of Pella in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Shirley LaVonne Jansen was born Oct. 25, 1937, north of Lynnville, the fifth of five children born to Gerrit C. and Elizabeth (Fopma) Jansen. She attended Black Oak Country School and graduated from Sully High School in 1956. After graduation, she worked for General Telephone Co. in Grinnell and the Sully Co-op Creamery Office.
Sept. 21, 1956, she was united in marriage with Bruce Baarda in Sully, a union that would last 60 years! They became the parents of a daughter Valerie who married Scott Rolffs, and a son Kent who married Joellyn (Burnham) Weideman.
In 1958, Bruce was drafted into the United States Army. Shirley went with Bruce when he was sent to Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah for 2-1/2 years. While there, their daughter Valerie was born, and Shirley worked at Mantes Chevrolet. After she and Bruce returned from the service, their son Kent was born. Shirley went to work for Lynnville-Sully School as a secretary for 30 years, retiring in 1997. After retirement, she went along with Bruce delivering motor homes from Winnebago Industries. Shirley loved to watch her children and grandchildren in sports and other events in their lives. Bruce and Shirley wintered in Florida and loved to travel. Family always enjoyed hearing about what adventures they had along the way.
Shirley loved to read, puzzle, and have coffee with her friends. Special times were with her sisters and sister-in-law for coffee or lunch and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grand-children. Bruce passed away on Aug. 29, 2017, after 60 years of marriage.
Left with memories are her daughter, Valerie, and her husband Scott Rolffs, along with their family - Corey and Dr. Jaci, and children Addilynn and Ellanora Rolffs, Cole and Leah and son Perry Rolffs, and Aimee and Josh and children Camden and Chet Nikkel; her son, Kent and his wife Joellyn Baarda along with their family - CDR Cole Weideman USN and wife Jennifer and daughter Mackenzie, Trisha and Dan Beyer, and LT Kaid Weideman USN; two sisters Bernice Dieleman and Cornelia Boat; sister-in-law Jerri Jansen; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Lucille Nikkel, Karen and Phil Langstraat, and Karma and Don Burman.
Preceding her in death were her husband; parents; sister Mary Nikkel; brother Cornie Jansen; brothers-in-laws Joe Nikkel, Louis Dieleman, and Harris Boat; parents-in-law; and sisters- and brothers-in-law Hubert and Joyce Huizer, Edward and Ila Mae Huyser, Edward Nikkel, and Dean and Judith Baarda.
