Shirley Anne Thissen
Shirley Anne Thissen passed away November 4, 2023 at Laurels of Chatham in Pittsboro, North Carolina at the age of 94 years. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; daughter, Jane; parents, James and Anna (Kleemeier) Conroy; 2 brothers and 3 sisters. She is survived by her children David Thissen (Rita), Mary Thissen-Milder (Sue), Julia Daum (Eric), and John Thissen (Yulia); and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Shirley was born in Jefferson, Iowa on April 6, 1929, where she attended primary school. She went to high school in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. On October 4, 1948, she married Jack Thissen. The couple established their home and raised their family in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Upon retirement, they moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina, and spent nineteen years in a home nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their final move was to Durham, North Carolina, to be nearer to family.
In her early adult years, Shirley worked as a telephone switchboard operator and as a bookkeeper at the Mitchell Dental Laboratory. She had a passion for early childhood education and was a teacher at the Humpty Dumpty Nursery School. She also was actively involved in the Corpus Christi Parish.
Shirley dedicated her life to raising her children. She believed strongly that her children should receive a quality education and be involved in school and community activities.
She was a talented seamstress and an avid gardener. She loved art, music, and theatre. Later in life, she enjoyed traveling, jigsaw puzzles, and watching sports, in particular, North Carolina and Iowa State basketball.
The Thissen family will be holding a private ceremony at a later date along with an inurnment at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society or to a Charity of one’s choice in memory of Shirley.
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Thissen family. www.donaldsonfunerals.com