Shirley Pauline Roark

Shirley Roark, 88, of Grand Island, NE died on May 27, 2023, at Riverside Lodge Retirement Community in Grand Island. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday June 16 at Apfel Funeral Home, 1123 W 2nd St, Grand Island, NE with Rev. Cat Love officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to the start of the service. In lieu of flowers/plants, please direct memorials to the family to be dedicated at a later date.

Shirley was born on December 24, 1934, to Merle and Louise Timmerman. She grew up in Valley County and received her education in Ord, NE. She was united in marriage to Jack Roark on September 20, 1976, in Grand Island. They lived in Grand Island for many years before retiring. While retired they enjoyed traveling to Arizona in the winters and spent their summers at Harlan County Lake in Alma, NE. Later in life they resided in Wood River until Shirley moved into retirement communities in Doniphan, NE and Grand Island, NE.

Shirley loved cooking and baking and on most days you could find her in the kitchen. She was well known for her monster cookies and peanut brittle. She loved flowers and was always so pleased with what she could grow. Shirley also loved to fish and camp. All of her years with Jack were spent at the campsites and on the boat. She has ALL the fish pictures to prove it. They also enjoyed traveling the United States with family.

Shirley was such a special part of her family. She was the oldest of 8 children and probably one of the feistiest. She welcomed anyone to family gatherings and always had plenty of food and goodies. She never met a stranger and would talk anyone’s ear off that would listen. It didn’t matter where she was, grocery store, doctors office, anywhere, she would start a conversation with a complete stranger. She also welcomed all of Jack’s children into her life and treated them like her own. She was so proud of all of her children and grandchildren on both sides. Shirley was loved by many and her passing will leave a huge hole in our hearts.

Shirley is survived by her daughter: Roxie Lathen; granddaughter: Mandy Lathen (Lon Hollibaugh); sisters: Pat Ingrahm, Janice Hodges, Kathy (Jerry) Vandewalle, Debbie (Jim) Frederick; step-children: Dick (Sharon) Roark, Annie (Peter) Rasmussen, Pat (Cathy) Roark, Linda (Darryl) Jones, & Matt Roark: numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Merle and Louise Timmerman; her beloved husband, Jack; son, Brian Merithew; infant granddaughter, Lisa Merithew; step-son, Mike Roark; brothers: Merle Timmerman Jr., Ron Timmerman, and David Timmerman; and ex-husband, Charles 'Bud' Merithew.