Shirley Block

Shirley Block, age 91, of Willmar, formerly of Kandiyohi, died Thursday evening, November 3, at Rice Care Center in Willmar.


Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Monday, November 21, at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer. Interment will be in the Spicer City Cemetery. Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday, November 20, at Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer.


Shirley was born October 3, 1925, in Gary, South Dakota, the daughter of John and Ella (Miller) Fritz. At a young age, her family moved to the Spicer area. She attended school in Spicer and Willmar, graduating from Willmar High School in 1944. She then worked for Standard Lumber in Willmar. On September 26, 1947, at the Spicer Presbyterian Church, Shirley was united in marriage to Wayne Block. They lived and farmed in the Kandiyohi area. Shirley worked as a cook at the Girl Scout Camp and at Willmar Cookie Company before going to work at the Willmar State Hospital in 1966. She retired in 1987.


She was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church and several neighborhood clubs. Shirley enjoyed roller-skating, gardening, reading, playing cards, puzzles and fishing with Wayne. She was an excellent cook and baker.
Most of all, she enjoyed visiting with others and loved opening her doors to family and friends.


She is survived by four children, Greg Block (and Rose Cleary) of Kandiyohi, Connie Peters of Willmar, Cheryl (and Lyndon) Hansen of Spicer and Marybeth Block of Kandiyohi; five grandchildren, Bill (and Tanya) Peters of Watertown, WI., Paul (and Tiffany) Block of Spicer, Travis Block (and special friend, Katie Ross) of Plymouth, Kerstin Hansen (and Jacob Kulju) of Schafer and Britta (and Joey) Brown of Marysville, WA; four great grandchildren, Brandon Peters, Madison Peters, Braden Block and Anora Brown; and other relatives and friends.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne, three brothers, William Fritz, Russell Fritz and Orville Fritz; and three sisters, Cleo Thonvold, Ina Gratz and Val Johanson.

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