Shirley Mitschke

Shirley Mae (Larson) Mitschke, 82, of Shawnee, KS went to her rest on May 27, 2020 surrounded by loved ones. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday June 6, 2020 at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 4153 Rainbow Blvd. Kansas City, KS 66103 with service following at 11:00 a.m. and a light lunch after the service. Burial will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens at 1:30 p.m. The family suggests guests wear purple or pink in Shirley’s honor, and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Saviour Lutheran Church Preschool Fund or Food Pantry.

Shirley was born on July 14, 1937 to Pete H. and Lois I. (Lyon) Larson, the 5th of 7 children. Her childhood years were spent in the area of Parsons KS until the death of her father at which time the family moved back to Kansas City, KS. Shirley graduated from Rosedale High School in 1955 and married Walter E. Mitschke, Jr. on May 27, 1955. The union produced 6 children. She worked for many years in the food service industry, retiring from Sysco Foods in 1995. In addition to her family, Shirley loved to read, listen to music of all kinds, singing, her church family and most of all Jesus. Because of her great love of books and music, she enjoyed a “retirement” career at Border’s Books and Music until 2012. Before health concerns and being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Shirley was an active member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, volunteering in many ways, but especially in the two missions closest to her heart, the Food Pantry and the Preschool. She often quoted Mark 10:45, saying “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

Shirley was proceeded in death by her brothers Herman J. Larson and his wife Dorothy, Clifford C. Larson and his wife Ruby, Robert L. Larson, her sister Iona M. (Larson) Dye and her husband Elvis, her sister-in-law Darlene Larson wife of Richard, her son-in-law Kevin Dayton husband of Sheryl, and her nephew Marc C. Larson son of Cliff and Ruby.

She is survived by her brothers Richard L. Larson, William W. Larson and wife Alice, sister-in-law Darlene Larson wife of Robert, her 6 children, Sheryl Dayton, Sandra Mitschke, Sally Mitschke, Sharon Miller and her husband Steve, Steven Mitschke, Scott Mitschke, her 4 grandchildren Stephanie Steele and husband Josh, Jocelyn Dayton, William Wheeler, Samuel Mitschke, her 5 great grandchildren, Seth Holland and Cash Steele, Angela and Thomas Wheeler, Jonathan Bunker, her many nieces and nephews who were dearly loved, and her 2 best buddies, Hayleigh and Bella.

And yes, mom, the dogs are in, and no, we don’t know what they’re barking at – love you always and forever.