On Wednesday, August 9, 2017, Shirley A. Tappe was called to heaven by the Lord God at Pathstone Living, Mankato while surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 18th at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, with a visitation to begin at 9:00 a.m. Paster Paul Andree will be officiating. A burial service will be held after the funeral at St. Olaf Cemetery, New Richland. Family and friends are invited to join the family for lunch at the church immediately after the service.
Shirley was born in Bellingham, MN on March 15, 1931 to William F. J. and Ethel T. (Stromswold) Fraasch. She graduated from Montevideo High School in 1949. On September 11, 1949 Shirley was united in marriage to Ambrose C. Tappe at Our Savior’s Lutheran church in Montevideo. Ambrose and Shirley moved to New Richland in 1951 and started Tappe Electric in 1958, where she served as its bookkeeper. Shirley moved to St. Peter in 2014, then to Mankato in 2016. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Shirley deeply loved and treasured her time with her family, had an abiding faith in God, and enjoyed serving her church and the community. She will be remembered for her devotion to her family and friends, her kindness and generosity to all she knew, and her persistence in making sure every person always had something to eat and a happy heart.
Shirley was greeted in heaven by her husband Ambrose, her grandson Ambrose “Amby II”, and brother Forrest. Waiting to join her in heaven are her children Richard (Jane) of New Richland, Allan (Phyllis) of Moraga, CA, David (Pam) of Maple Grove, Marlene of Mankato, and Bruce (Deb) of Waseca; grandchildren Nichole Tappe, Eric (Carly) Tappe, Megan (Andrew) Danielson, Tim (Angie) Tappe, Mackensie (Drew) McBeain, Daniel Tappe, Mariah Tappe, William “Fritz” Tappe, Tricia (Noah) Hobbs, Tara Tappe, and Michael Tappe; great-grandsons Dakotah Anderson, Carter Tappe, Linus Danielson, Felix Danielson, and Lucas Tappe; sister Audrey (John) Moore; and brother Ken.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, St. Olaf Cemetery in New Richland, the New Richland Area Food Shelf, Pathstone Living in Mankato, or Global Health Ministries.
The family expresses their gratitude for the loving ministry of care given to Shirley at Pathstone Living.
Arrangements by Starkson & Steffel Funeral and Cremation Service, Waseca, MN.