Memorial services for Shirley Marie Torsch, of Albert Lea will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. To sign the guest book, goto www.bayviewfuneral.com
Shirley died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at her home.
As you can see I’m writing this myself, I always needed the last word. I lost my battle with cancer. I was born Shirley Marie Metcalfe on June 12, 1940, to Thomas and Ila (Tukua) Metcalfe. I attended Hammer School through sixth grade, the Albert Lea junior and senior high, graduating in 1958. At the age of 20, I married Marlin Thompson, the father of my five children. We were married 22 years, and later divorced in 1983. In 1994, I married Donald Torsch in Albert Lea. I worked at Spurgeon’s for 14 years, then Streater for 13 years and currently at ALMC for 10 years. I enjoyed working my crossword in the Albert Lea Tribune every day. I liked playing pool on many pool leagues. I liked pitching on many different softball leagues. I liked knitting, crocheting, playing cribbage with my friend Donna daily and teaching my granddaughter Kayla how to play cribbage. I liked watching the Minnesota Vikings and golf on TV. I loved my yearly trips to Las Vegas with brother Don, his wife Joyce, and friends. I enjoyed coffee parties with my four friends, Gloria, Donna, Mary P. and Mary G. I still kept in touch with high school friends Jeanie Adams, Sandy Lind and Pat Pederson.
My survivors are son, Mitch Thompson and friend Elizabeth King of Lakeland; daughters: Shawn Kaasa and friend Brent Seaberg of Savage, Traci (Jeff) Bennett of Albert Lea, Kris (Rob) Cich of Savage and Jodi (Tom) Foss of Owatonna; grandchildren: Thomas Collins of University of Minnesota-Duluth, Brooke Kaasa and friend Tony Shafer of Cottage Grove, Brittney Kaasa of UW-River Falls, Kayla Thompson of Albert Lea, Heather Bennett and fiancé Scott of Wisconsin, Cody Bennett and friend Casey Laite of Clarks Grove, Jacob Cich, Baghdad, Iraq, Michelle Cich of U of M-Duluth, Bobbi Foss of Owatonna, Megan Foss of Owatonna, Makenzie Thompson of Hastings, Karissa Thompson of Hastings, Alyssa Mussehl of Lakeland; great-grandchild, Avah Bennett; step children: Kirk Thompson of Albert Lea, Brenda (Joel) Bell of Stewartville, Scott Torsch and Steve Torsch; step-grandchildren: Eric Bell, Madison, Makalah and Marshall Torsch; sister, Betty (Roger) Hermanson of Albert Lea; brother, Donald Metcalfe of Albert Lea; brothers-in-law: Paul Andersen of Waseca, Neil Severson of Albert Lea; ex-daughter-in-law, Tamara Thompson of Hastings; ex-sons-in-law, Scott Kaasa of Austin and Mark Collins of Albert Lea; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
I was preceded in death by my parents, Tom and Ila Metcalfe; grandparents, Carl and Amelia Tukua, and Mable (Metcalfe) Stuart; granddaughter, Breanna Kaasa at age 3; husband, Donald Torsch in 1998; ex-husband, Marlin Thompson in 2003; sisters: Phyllis Andersen at age 62 and Mary Severson at age 60; brothers: Dwayne Richard Metcalfe in infancy, Thomas Jr. at age 26, Dale at age 46, and James at age 58; sister-in-law, Joyce Metcalfe in 2008; nephew, Steven Hanson age 52; and special pet muffin.
I would like to thank Dr. Kammerer, the doctors and nurses in oncology, the doctors and nurses in radiation; and my bosses and co-workers at ALMC in dietary, whom I’ve had fun working with.