A rosary will begin at 9:45 a.m. prior to the Mass. Private burial and cemetery service will be held at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com or phone 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Shirley and her family.

Shirley was born in New York City on March 20, 1928. She married Anthony D. Leschin on June 24, 1949. They moved to Washington D.C. where she worked as a secretary at the Pentagon, while her husband attended Georgetown School of Medicine. As Dr. Leschin’s career progressed, the couple moved to Michigan, Oregon, California and Illinois, eventually settling in Marshalltown with their six children in 1970.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Shirley attended Mass daily, was dedicated to praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and once took a religious pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. She was a passionate pro-life activist both locally and nationwide. She had a contagious laugh, was an avid reader, enjoyed bread-baking, walking at the YMCA and most of all, loved spending time with her family and many grandchildren.

Shirley was an active parishioner of St. Henry Catholic Church for 49 years. She volunteered in a variety of capacities and especially enjoyed preparing and serving funeral lunches for her parish community. She was a member of Altar and Rosary, P.E.O., Twentieth Century Club, The Ladies Medical Auxiliary and was one of the original “shoebox ladies” that helped establish Iowa River Hospice in 1983.

Shirley will be deeply missed by her six children: Louise (Riley) McCarten, of St. Paul, Minnesota, Michael (Connie) Leschin, of Price, Utah, Stephen Leschin, of Le Grand, Iowa, Frances Wilke, of St. Paul, Minnesota, Clare (Chuck) Leschin-Hoar, of La Jolla, California and Mary Jo (Paul) Rakowski, of Denver, Colorado and nine grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony.