Shirley Wiatrak

Shirley Ann Wiatrak (nee Faust) was born in a homebirth on a farm in Pierz, MN in 1936. She grew up in Pierz and graduated from Little Falls High School in 1954. Shirley married her high school sweetheart, David Wiatrak, in 1957 at Ascension Catholic Church in North Minneapolis. They first lived in Bowlus, MN and then spent some wonderful years in North Minneapolis where they made wonderful “City Friends” they stayed connected to for the rest of their lives. Shirley and David settled for more than 40 years in Andover, MN. In 1973 they built their dream home on Crooked Lake where they raised their family and hosted many winter and summer parties.
Shirley enjoyed a few career paths, including working in banking, but she spent the bulk of her years in hospitality as a waitress. For 13 years she was at the Edgewater Inn in North Minneapolis where she made many lifelong friends. She later enjoyed her work for Anoka Technical College teaching the server portion of the commercial cooking class. She finished her career at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, starting as a banquet server and then a banquet captain. During her 25 years at the Hyatt she won several awards, including the Employee of the Year Award, earning an all-expense paid 2-week trip to Hawaii for her and Dave. Other memorable travels included many trips to Florida to visit Mike and family, visits to Nevada to see her sister, a jaunt around Europe to visit Mary Jo and a trip to China to see Chrissy and family.
Shirley loved to host, cook and bake for her family and friends. She was famous for her always-moist banana bread, amazing lemon bars, nut goodie bars, and delicious cinnamon rolls. She got to be a grandma for decades as her grandchildren span a 27- year age difference. She cherished being Pretty Gramma or Nany to each and every one of them.
Shirley spent her last year’s having lunches with the Old Girls club, the Northside Girls, the Andover Girls, and visiting friends. Spending time with her kids and their families was always her favorite. She loved to pet sit, tell funny stories, and was quick witted with her sarcasm. She accepted her mortality years before her death and was humorous until the end. She was a faithful woman, spending her mornings in prayer. She was always grateful for her large family, her long marriage, her close relationship with her sister Lynda, her cousin-sister Esther, and many friends. She often said, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Dave of 54 years, her brother Leroy, her sister-in-law Mary, her mother Ludwina Christina Jamma and father Bernard Faust.

She is survived by her sister Lynda (Larry) MacDonald, and her sister and brother-in-law Grace and Dale Eberhardt, and many nieces and nephews who were special to her. Shirley is also survived by her children: Mike (Tyra) Wiatrak, Steve (Sandy) Wiatrak, MaryJo (Ron) Wiatrak, Andrew (Nickie) Wiatrak, Christina (Todd) Erickson. Grandchildren: Brandon (Sandra) Wiatrak and their children Ava and Liam. Dustin (Noelle) Wiatrak, Brittany Wiatrak, Marcus Wiatrak, Madison (Eric) Martin and Jacob Gutekunst, Mia Erickson, Marta Uhlenkott, Sonja Erickson and Milo Uhlenkott.
On her last day Shirley rested peacefully, dying in her sleep. A special thanks to the many people who made Shirley’s last few years at home possible and even joyful: wonderful friends and neighbors, relatives from near and far, hospice care from Accent Care, and many wonderful visitors. Thank you all. Your care and support have been a rich blessing.

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