Shirley Louise Longwell

Shirley L. Longwell 88 of Emerson, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday October 22, 2014 at the  Pender Community Hospital.           Services will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson with the Rev. Gretchen Ritola officiating.. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. Friday at Becker- Hunt Funeral Home with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 8:00 P.M.           Shirley was born February 3, 1926 in Hornick, Iowa. She graduated from Homer, Nebraska High School. She married Merle D. Longwell November 26, 1944 in Durham, North Carolina. The couple moved to Holstein, Iowa in 1970 and to Westpoint, Nebraska in 1971. They operated a Sears Catalog store and owned a Steak House.  They moved to Sioux City in 1987.           Shirley was a member of First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City. She enjoyed playing cards and belonged to several card clubs.  She was one  of the biggest Husker fans. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.            Survivors include: a daughter Nancy and her husband Terry Ropken of Bailey, Colorado, twins; Gayle and her husband Eldon Miller of Emerson, Nebraska and Gordon and his wife JoAnn Longwell of Coured’ Alene, Idaho, twins; Kathy and her husband Bruce Whittington of Magnolia, Kentucky and Kevin Longwell of Englewood, Colorado, Pati and her husband Dan Longoria of Lincoln, Nebraska, a brother William “Bill” Heck of Gresham, Wisconsin, two sisters: Bonnie and her husband Jim Rossiter of South Sioux City, Mary Ann Robertson of Pender, Nebraska, 19 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.             She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merle April 24, 2001, a daughter Pam Riley, two sisters Genevieve, and Esther, six brothers: Alvin, Joe, Virgil “Bud”, George, Bob and Jack Heck, one grandson and one great grandson.