Obituary of Dale G. Shires

Dale Shires of Iowa City, Iowa passed away quietly at home Sunday morning, March 18, 2012. Dale was born on a farm in Montgomery County, Iowa in 1932 to Lester and Alice Shires. He grew up there, attending Elliott, Iowa schools and was active on the football and basketball teams, Future Farmers of America, 4H and the United Methodist Church in Elliott, graduating from Elliott Consolidated Schools in 1950. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University in agricultural studies in 1954 and went on to study at Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. In August of 1956 he married the former Helen Zern Emmert, also a student at Garrett. The two of them soon after traveled to Portugal to do language study for mission work in Africa. In 1958 the family took up residence in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe where Dale worked as an educator and agricultural missionary. The family returned to Iowa and Dale began a thirty-three year career in the Agricultural Extension Service. He worked in West Pottawattamie and Bremer Counties before coming to Johnson County in 1972 as the Extension Director. He served Johnson County for 23 years and was proud to have had a hand in expanding the work to include Big Brothers Big Sisters. During his forty years in Iowa City, Dale's activities included volunteering for the Soil and Water Conservation District and was a proud member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church. Dale is preceded in death by his wife, Helen; and his brother Paul. He is survived by his brother Lisle and sister-in-law Julia; Paul's widow, Pat Shires; and their families; his three children, Barbara Blaisdell of Colorado; Stephen Shires of Boston and James Shires of Chicago as well as 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren as well as his church family. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00am, Saturday, March 24th. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Pastor Arnette Pint, presiding. Memorials can be sent to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 2675 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245 or African University, Africa University Farm Development Advance # 3021027, in care of St. Mark's UMC. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Dale's family and his services.