Shirley Haase Turner passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the age of 83.
Shirley was born to Dean and Carolyn (Diener) Haase at their home at 729 S. Vine Street in North Platte on June 1, 1940. She had one brother, Vern, who was 3 ½ years her senior. Shirley attended McKinley Elementary School then North Platte Junior and Senior High Schools, graduating with the Class of 1958. During her junior and senior years, Shirley took dance lessons and worked as an assistant instructor at Nettie Jean's Dance Studio. She later helped teach ballroom dance for a number of years.
After graduating from high school, Shirley attended Parks School of Business in Denver and worked as a billing and filing clerk. While in Denver she met and married Ronald Turner. Ron worked for Martin Marietta Company where they built the Titan Missile Defense System. He was later transferred with the company so they moved to Wichita, KS, where he continued working with the Missile Project.
Ron and Shirley had three children: Steven, Timothy and Angela. In 1967 the couple divorced and Shirley returned to North Platte with her three small children. She went to work for her parents in their Ace Hardware Store and continued to work there for over 38 years. After her parents retired in 1983, Shirley and her brother continued to manage and work the family-owned store until it was sold in 2005.
Shirley was a 50-year member of the First United Methodist Church in North Platte where she was baptized and confirmed at the age of 13 and later became a member of the Methodist Women.
Over the years Shirley was active in the North Platte Community. She was a member of the Chamber Hostesses, Community Improvement Committee, Parents Without Partners, Altrusa International, and Sassies (a chapter of the Red Hat Society).
She loved dancing, sewing, cake decorating, gardening and watching Husker football! She also loved decorating and wearing hats; she wore one most Sundays for church. Shirley especially loved her pets, Frostie (her Silver Persian) and Little Bit and Gracie (her little white Chihuahuas). But her greatest loves were her family and traveling, she loved camping and taking her children and grandchildren to Walt Disney World.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Carolyn Haase; her brother, Vern; and infant son, Robert.
She is survived by her children, Steven Turner (Debbie) of Estes Park, CO, Timothy Turner and Angie Turner (Roma) of North Platte; four grandsons and two great- granddaughters; her nieces, Jennifer and Julie Haase; as well as several cousins, other family and friends.
Services are 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 3, at First United Methodist Church. Burial to follow in the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation is prior to the service. Memorials are to the church. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.