Shirley Wilma (Hawkinson) Brandt

   SHIRLEY WILMA HAWKINSON BRANDT, age 83, of Ashton, IA., died Monday, February 03, 2020, of a progressive illness at the Sibley Initiatives Care Center. She was born on March 20, 1936, in Worthington, to Axel William and Maybelle (Schmidt) Hawkinson. Shirley graduated from Worthington High School in 1954. She worked in the office of Campbell Soup Company and in the office of Habichts Department Store in Worthington. She also worked at Coveris packaging company (formerly Chase Bag Co.) for several years. Shirley had a vivacious spirit, a love for music, horses, flying airplanes and a life of living uniquely of her own

   She had many talents with her music being her favorite. The organ, the trumpet and the piano keyboard were some of her several different instruments. She had her own band call “Shirley’s Combo”, her first husband Wally Jenson of Worthington played the drums. In later years she played solo at many nursing homes and Legion Clubs around the country. She was a favorite at the Legion Club in Brewster, MN for many years. Traveling to Texas with her instruments in the winter and playing at various clubs, she made many friends across the country.

   Shirley had many talents and was a Telephone Cable Splicer with her second husband Ted Larson. They traveled over several states contracting cable splicing jobs for various companies. After the loss of Ted, she met and married Fred Brandt of Tama, IA. Fred was a lover of flying airplanes and had a WW2 trainer aircraft. They lived on a farm near Tama. Shirley began building her own aircraft, a Longeasy rear engine type.  She spent many hours on it but never got it completed.

   Shirley is survived by one brother, Milo (Mary) Hawkinson, Worthington; one sister, LaDee Grant, Worthington; sister-in-law, Marian Hawkinson, Fort Dodge, IA; nieces, Ramona Roos, Rockwell City, IA; Dana (Tony) Clarke, Slayton; Debbra (Jim) Petersen, New Ulm; and Darcy (Jim) Rokusek, Sioux Falls, SD; a nephew, Douglas (Vickie) Hawkinson, Cold Spring.

    She was preceded in death by her parents;  a brother Arlynn “Skip” Hawkinson; and three stillborn siblings.

   Funeral service will be 11 am Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, in Worthington, officiated by Pastor Daren Flinck. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Worthington Cemetery following the lunch.

   Dingmann Funeral Home, in Worthington, is in charge of arrangements.

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