Shirley Faye Pals

away Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019 at the Lake Mills Care Center. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24, at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, with Pastor Melinda McCluskey officiating. A memorial visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m., Friday evening, Aug. 23, at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills. Shirley’s family would like to suggest that memorials be made to Salem Lutheran Church-Furnace Fund.
Shirley Faye (Soma) Pals was born to Norris and Eveline (Johnson) Soma on Nov. 26, 1937, in Belmond. Shirley was one of eight children and the youngest girl of six. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, attended school and graduated from Belmond Community School in 1956.
Shirley was united in marriage to Arlen Pals, June 8, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Belmond.
Shirley and Arlen owned and operated P&G Market, Lake Mills, from 1968-1981, where she managed the operations of the business.
She adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, loved her friends, and being a member of Salem Lutheran Church. She enjoyed many family gatherings with her siblings and their families where there was much love and laughter shared. She was known as the “favorite” aunt of many of her nieces and nephews. Shirley was passionate about doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and playing games with her family including Yahtzee and the card game 13, where she was often caught cheating. She enjoyed “Friday morning coffee” for many years with her dear friends Phyllis Moen, Diane Gardner and Helen Rice and participating in water aerobics at the Lake Mills swimming pool with friends and instructor Ree Pederson.
Shirley devoted her life to her family and leaves a legacy of how to create a strong and lasting bond within her family. She will be remembered as someone who was always available with a listening ear and a loving heart.
Shirley is survived by her three children: Ryan (Kim) Pals, Randy Pals and Roxanne (Brad Dondlinger) Pals; seven grandchildren: Tony (Bethany Sand) Gulick, Jamie (Brian) Appenzeller, Miranda (Anthony) Nelson, Rebecca (Alex) Wolfe, Andrew (Chelsea Haines) Pals, Brennan Dondlinger and Parker Dondlinger; great-grandchildren: Sophia Nelson, Kale Appenzeller, Dylan Gulick, Connor Gulick, Camdon Nelson, Calvin Nelson, Elise Gulick and Evelene Wolfe; siblings: Muriel Durant, Gilman (Sandra) Soma, Betty (Donnie) Dorenkamp, Lois Beisner, and Charles (Phoebe) Soma; as well as many nieces, nephews and other loved ones.
Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Arlen; parents; and sisters: Dorothy Barkema and Eleanor Pals.