Shirley McBroom

Shirley Jean McBroom, age 85, the daughter of Noel Dunbar and Ethel Leona (Kingery) Chambers, was born January 31, 1936, in Clay Township of Marion County, Iowa. She died at her rural Garden Grove home on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

Shirley grew up and attended school at Pleasantville, Iowa. She met the love of her life, Kenneth Clell McBroom, at Lake Ahquabi near Indianola, Iowa when she was in high school. They married on February 27, 1953, during her senior year and moved to California where Kenny was stationed in the United States Army. Shirley finished her formal education and graduated from high school in Garden Grove, California. After his honorable discharge in August of 1954, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa and later Indianola, Iowa. Shirley worked at the State House until in 1964 when they bought their current farm. She then worked at the Decatur County Extension Office and was an associate at Mormon Trail Schools before being a full time homemaker for her husband and children, Noel, Terry, Dana, and Cherene.

Shirley loved to garden, raising both vegetables and flowers. She loved all animals, but especially horses and always had favorite dogs and cats around. She served as a 4-H leader for the LeRoy Merrymakers Club for years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Kenny on July 8, 2021; son, Noel in 1990; grandson, Eric McBroom in 2010; brother, David Chambers and wife, Marlene; and brother-in-law, Bill Groteluschen. Survivors include her children, Terry & Martha McBroom of Melcher-Dallas, Iowa, Dana McBroom of Garden Grove, and Cherene & Chad Patterson of Indianola, Iowa; grandchildren, Beth & Don, Jay & Jackie, Dani & Joe, Jacob & Wendy, Aaron & Shannon, Ben & Kelsey, Mason, Abby, and Haleigh; 20 great grandchildren; siblings, Carol Worthington and Janet & Martin Boots, all of Pleasantville, Iowa, Joyce Groteluschen of Audubon, Iowa, and Mary & Sam Crabb of Swan, Iowa; brother-in-law, Ron McBroom and wife, Ginny of Winterset, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2021, with Gary Walter officiating. Burial will be in the Metier Cemetery, Garden Grove, Iowa.