A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in The Runge Mortuary Chapel with visitation starting at 11:00 A.M. until service time. She will be laid to rest in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.
Shirley was born November 12, 1921, to Charles and Emma (Wessel) Swift in Davenport, IA., where she lived for nearly 98 years. She was united in marriage to Edwin A. Vensland on September 2, 1955. They enjoyed 30 years together until he left us to be with the Lord in 1986.
Shirley had many friends and family throughout Davenport and was proud of her Christian faith. Shirley loved her dogs and one tomato a day, and had a great sense of humor. Shirley liked roaming around Ridgecrest halls and looking at the fish and birds. She loved listening to her recorded music and enjoyed the lady who came once a month to play guitar and sing. You may have met Shirley at some point during your life, because she taught Sunday school at St. Mark's Lutheran Church as a teenager until the 1970's. In later years, she enjoyed meeting with her Christian fellowship group. She was employed for many years with W.T. Grant & Company as well as with Roederer Transfer and storage.
Since Eddie's passing, Shirley had volunteered with the Genesis Hospital Auxillary and with the American Cancer Society Discovery shop until she was 98 yrs.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Kent Vensland, Kathryn Nohai, Jodi Warrick, Jim Ledder, and Robert Naugle; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces, David and Rick Vensland, Diane Jackson, Robin; Melody and Gavin Guenther, Kay Connelly, and Scott Swift; and her good friend and former daughter-in-law, Jan DePover.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie; her children, Roger and Valerie; brothers, Milburn Swift and Dale Swift; and her sister, Ruth Guenther.
The family would like to thank the nurses, the aides, and the staff at Ridgecrest for their care and gentleness with Shirley and Hospice care.
