Laura Shimek

Laura A. Shimek, age 93 of Little Falls, MN passed away Monday, January 4, 2010 at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, January 7, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie with Father Mark Innocenti, officating. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 A.M. Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Laura Antoinette (Moran) Shimek was born January 27, 1916 in Fort Ripley Township, MN to the late Dave and Alma (Dugas) Moran. She attended Morrison County schools and high school and teacher's training in 1933 and 1934. Laura taught school in Morrison County schools for three years. She worked as a housekeeper in Minneapolis in the summers for six dollars a week. In 1936 and 1937, Laura worked as a waitress at the Devon Gables Supper Club in Detroit, MI. In 1939, Laura returned to Minnesota. On October 12, 1939, she was united in marriage to George Shimek. They began raising their family of seven children on a dairy farm in Fort Ripley. Laura was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she served on the parish council and was a member of St. Anne's Society. She loved fishing, entertaining, sewing and cooking. In 1988, George and Laura celebrated 50 years of married life. In 1989, they moved from their farm and built a new home in Little Falls. George passed away in 1998. In 2000, Laura authored a Minnesota History Book. In 2007, she authored the book "Under My Roof", a family heritage book and in 2009 she wrote and published numerous short stories about her life. Laura is survived by her children, Sue (Richard) DeFore of Center City, MN, Rosemary Moore and friend, Alan Kearney, of Bloomington, MN, Dan (Kay) Shimek of Apple Valley, MN, Carol (Alan) Lenhart of St. Croix Falls, WI, Steve (Lee) Shimek of Prior Lake, MN and Gerald (Ann) Shimek of Prior Lake, MN; 22 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; niece and caring nurse, Loretta Moran of Little Falls, MN and a brother Clifford (Jane) Moran of St. Cloud, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; son, Ronald Shimek and parents, Dave & Alma Moran. Honorary pallbearers are Tony Shimek, Aaron DeFore, Jessica Hall, Joey Shimek, David Shimek and Tommy Shimek. Casket Bearers are Chris Shimek, Daniel DeFore, Sean Moore, Danielle Shimek, Laura Chamberlain, Jayme Anderson and Ryan Shimek. The family's deepest gratitude is extended to Loretta Moran for her loving and caring attention to Laura's needs and to the Lutheran Care Center where she lived for the past three years. In lieu of flowers family prefers memorials.