Shirley Ilene Conrad, age 69 of High Amana, formerly of Wayland, died Saturday morning, February 21, 2009 at the Marengo Memorial Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Kalona with Pastor Don Patterson and Pastor Richard Swartzendruber officiating. Burial will be at 2 P.M. Wednesday at Sugar Creek Mennonite Cemetery in Wayland. Friends may call from 2 to 8 P.M. Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church where the family will be present from 2-4 P.M. and 6–8 P.M. Memorials may be contributed to the Lower Deer Creek Church Building Fund. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is in charge of arrangements.

She is survived by her husband James; two sons, Michael (Colleen) of Marengo and Ronald (Christina) of Wayland; a daughter Amy Yoder (Bradley) of High Amana; three grandchildren, Jory Conrad, Gracie Yoder and Simon Yoder; a brother Dale Keith Gingerich (Ruth) of Carmel, CA and two sisters, Mildred Swartzendruber of Kalona and Imogene Schlabaugh (Emil) of Kalona, and many nieces and nephews and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Shirley Ilene Gingerich was born October 4, 1939 in Iowa County, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Gertrude Miller Gingerich. She received her early education in the Iowa County schools and graduated from Iowa Mennonite School in 1958. Shirley married James Conrad on November 14, 1959 at Lower Deer Creek Church in Kalona. She was employed in laundry services at Parkview Nursing Home for 24 years. She enjoyed collecting cookbooks, bird watching and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church in Wayland and “shared her faith” with the little ones as a Sunday school teacher.