Shirley Menghini

KINGSFORD - Shirley Menghini, 83, of Kingsford, died on Saturday, June 26, 2008, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain. She was born on June 13, 1925, in Norway, daughter of the late Elmer "Potts" Johnson and Rose (Banchi) Magnuson. Shirley graduated from Norway High School in 1942, and then went on to Columbus Nursing School in Chicago, where she graduated as a registered nurse. On June 26, 1948, she married Robert Menghini. Bob preceded her in death on Nov. 5, 2007. Shirley began her nursing career at Penn Hospital in Norway. Her first move was to Marquette where she worked at St. Luke's Hospital. She then moved to Troy, Mich., to work at Beaumont Hospital where she helped deliver the first set of triplets. They moved back to the U.P. and Shirley worked at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain until she began her job with the Dickinson-Iron Health Department in 1961. Shirley worked as a public health and school nurse, and retired from the health department after 25 years in 1986. Shirley loved to read, and instilled that love in her daughters at a very young age with frequent trips to the public library. Family trips and vacations were an important part of their summers. She loved her family, her bridge clubs, and her lifelong Norway friends known as the "Hilltoppers." Shirley loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. She also loved cooking, gardening, watching the Packers, winters in Florida, and spending time with her grandsons. Shirley is survived by her daughters, Susan (Wayne) Backlund of Marshall, Mich. and Spread Eagle, Wis., Kristine Deckett of Tawas City, Mich., and Joan (Larry) Swartout of Iron Mountain; grandsons, Robert Backlund of Jackson, Wyo., David Deckett of Tawas City, and Thomas, Alex, and Andrew Swartout, all of Iron Mountain; a sister, Norma Zemek of Eagan, Minn.; brothers-in- law, Floyd Menghini, Clarence (Marge) Menghini, and Wallace (Gwen) Menghini; and several nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by a brother, James Magnuson. Private family services were held. Condolences to the family of Shirley Menghini may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Shirley Menghini

July 26, 1925 - July 26, 2008