Shirley E. Hopp

Shirley Ethelyn Hopp was born September 2, 1934, in Whiting, Iowa, the youngest child of Fred and Florence Riddle. She met our Lord October 5, 2019, at Eventide Lutheran Home, Denison, Iowa, at eighty-five years young. Formerly of Charter Oak, Iowa, she had been a resident of Eventide from December 2014 after suffering a debilitating stroke.
Shirley was baptized in 1943 and became a member of the Christian Church in Ute, Iowa. She confirmed her faith at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak in 1951. When Shirley was eight years old, her mother passed away. Her father was a carpenter and had to travel for jobs. As a young teenager, Shirley and her older sister Joyce moved into the Ute Hotel and provided maid service for their room and board.
At age 15 on May 21, 1950, Shirley was united in marriage for 49 years to Alvern (Skip) Hopp at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak. The couple made their home in Charter Oak and were blessed with five children: a son (stillborn) ten months after their marriage, Debra, Dianna (died shortly after birth), Kimberly and Carman.
Shirley was a care giver for elderly people and later was employed at Moore Brothers Grocery Store in Charter Oak, where she became manager. Following the closure of that store, she worked at the Convenience Store in Charter Oak and then as school custodian until she retired.
During her retirement, she became active in community service as a Community Club member and strong supporter of the Senior Citizen Program. In addition to her volunteer work, she served a few years as janitor at St. John Lutheran Church and a member of the funeral and quilt committee. She was an Eventide delegate and Auxiliary board member. She served on the Crawford County Arts Council Board of Directors and was an avid member of the local Red Hats Society. Because of her love for serving her Lord, church and community, she was named Charter Oak’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2010.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two infant children, a grandson, Lucas; two brothers, Harry and Clifford; and one sister, Maxine. Survivors include: two daughters, Debra and her husband, Rick, and Kimberly; one son, Carman and his wife, Susan; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Joyce; other relatives and friends.