Shirley Irene (Sorenson) Daack, passed away November 30, 2023, of complications due to a medical procedure in Rochester, Minnesota. Her loving husband, William (Bill) Daack, of 61 years and daughter, Rachel Daack, were with her. She was born and died in Minnesota and between made her way to Dubuque, IA where she made life wonderful for so many people.

Shirley was born in Warren, Minnesota, on March 5, 1941, to Genevieve and Willard Sorenson.  Her family moved to Hamilton and later to Missoula, Montana, where she grew up and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1959. In 1961 she set sail for Hawaii where she met and married Bill Daack on January 20, 1962. In May of 1963 she, Bill and their daughter, Sandy, moved to Dubuque. Shirley quickly became a Dubuquer giving birth to four more children: Elaine, Bryan, David, and Rachel; learning to play Euchre and Pinochle; attending large extended family gatherings; and becoming a Catholic. Throughout her young adult life, she was an engaged member of her parish, involved in school boards and volleyball teams, and played golf. She, together with Bill, Monsignor Dalton, and Mary and John O’Connell were responsible for bringing CEW to Dubuque.

There is so much we love about Shirley. Here are just few of the many things we treasure about her:  She loved being a grandma, green tea, and Christmas; she made very cool Barbie and doll clothes; her sense of humor and appreciation of a good joke (both clean and dirty); her love language of gift giving and sense of style; her love of nature and of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. She was a super fan of any and everything her children and grandchildren did and was very proud of their individual accomplishments.  She loved being with friends, social gatherings, and playing games. She was an avid reader, consumer of knowledge, and a self-taught genius. She enjoyed the Little League World Series, Women’s Big 10 Volleyball, and the Westminster Dog Show.

Her biggest and long-lasting legacy is the very strong family she created and led. She was devoted to the creation of a family who valued and cared for each other no matter what. In addition to the physical life she gave to her own children, she accepted those who joined us as her own and cultivated a family who belong to one another. Most of all, she loved her Willy Joseph.

Those left to remember and cherish her include her husband, Bill; her children Sandra (Mike Hirsch), Elaine, Bryan (Sally Schwartz), David (Belinda Dunne), and Rachel (Tom Riley); her grandchildren Leah Hirsch (Chuck), William Hirsch (Jess), Calvin Daack, Margaret Daack (AJ), Nathen Riley, Caitlin Daack, James Riley, Claire Daack, and Grace Daack; siblings Donna Lindberg (David), Martha Petersen (John), Neil Sorenson (Darlene); sisters and brothers-in-law Sharon Sorenson, Leota Sorenson, Kenneth Daack (Kay), Ronald Daack, Barbra Weldon, Cheri Schaar, and Steven Daack (Kathy); a host of extended family members and dear, dear friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Robert and Dick Sorenson, Bill’s parents Ruth and Merlin Daack, and brother-in-law Jerry Weldon.

We are grateful to the healthcare team at the Mayo Clinic who provided tender care, especially Angela and Courtney who helped transition her to a respectful death and her nurses Brent, Mandy, and Chelsea who remained with her and supported her family until the wee hours of the night.

We will celebrate Shirley with family and friends on January 20, 2024, at Happy’s Place on Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, Iowa from 1-6pm with a tribute and time for sharing from 1:30-2:30 followed by food and a joyous celebration—be prepared to dance!

She had tremendous compassion for people and animals in need and our family would like for people to make donations in support of the Dubuque Rescue Mission or the Dubuque Humane Society in lieu of sending flowers. We love, love, love you Shirley/mom/grandma, always and forever.