Shirley Wierzbinski, 94, Owatonna

Shirley Wierzbinski died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester.

Friends may greet the family from 4:00-6:00 PM, Thursday, January 25, 2024, at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, Owatonna. A Parish Rosary will be recited at the start of the visitation at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Owatonna, with visitation continuing one hour prior to the start of Mass. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Owatonna.

Shirley Ann Wierzbinski was born March 24, 1929, in Mankato, the daughter of Clem and Christina (Trinka) Schulte. She graduated from Loyola High School in Mankato in 1947. She moved to Owatonna in 1949 and began working at Federated Insurance, where she continued to work until her retirement in 1987.

Shirley was united in marriage to Charles Sauter in 1951 at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Mankato. This union brought two daughters Gail and June. Charles died in 1973.

In 1975, Shirley married Jim Wierzbinski at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna. They made their home in Owatonna until Jim’s death in February 2023.

Shirley was a member of the Owatonna Elks Lodge. She volunteered for the Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary for many years. Her main interests were sewing, reading and playing cards.

Shirley is survived by children Gail Sauter and June (John) Meitzner; sisters-in-law Marilyn Dillemuth and Irene Wierzbinski; grandchildren Georgia Jimenez and Christopher Meitzner; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Seasons Hospice Rochester or St. Mary’s Catholic School, Owatonna.