Shirley Blocker

Shirley Blocker, 90, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2016, at home surrounded by her family. Memorial Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 22, 2016, at All Saints Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Reverend John R. Flaherty. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her children, Daniel, Nancy, Gretchen (Tom) Lickiss, Ellen, Susan (Joe Mischka), Jane (Roger Lindsay), Sarah (Rob) Bohlke, Mary, and Rebecca Blocker; grandchildren, Joseph and Margaret Mischka and Boyd Lickiss; and brother, Phillip. Shirley Anne Lehner was born March 10, 1926, in Cascade, Iowa, to Merton and Bernadette (Carr) Lehner. She graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in 1947 and married Donald Blocker on September 2, 1954, in Dubuque. Together, they raised nine children over the course of the next fifty years until his death in 2002. While Shirley was extremely proud of her nursing career, her family was the focus of her life. As all of her children and grandchildren will attest, Shirley was the ultimate nurturer, teacher, caregiver, and devoted Chicago White Sox fan. For that, and for so much more, all those who loved her will be forever grateful. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, Thomas Lehner. Memorials may be directed to All Saints Catholic Church Haiti Committee. Shirley's family would like to thank Mercy Hospice, especially Kendra Mensen, the staff from Home Choice Senior Care, especially Kelly Steil, and All Saints Catholic Church. 'To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children'to leave the world a better place'to know that even one life breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.' Ralph Waldo Emerson.