Obit: Balcome, Shirley A. (1927 – 2010)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Balcome, Lakeman, Ryan, Eckles, Adam, Callahan

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) February 17, 2010

Balcome, Shirley A. (16 August 1927 – 11 February 2010)

Shirley A. Balcome, 82, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, MN, surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born Aug. 16, 1927, in Dubuque, IA, to Patrick and Marie (Lakeman) Ryan.  She attended school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dubuque through eighth grade.  After school, she worked for the Dubuque Pack. She moved to St. Charles in 1958, and March 18, 1967, she married Frank Balcome.  She worked at Travelers Eat Shop in St. Charles as a waitress, the St. Charles Liquor Store as a bartender, owned the Dew Drop Inn with Frank, was a waitress at Barb’s Place, also in St. Charles, and worked at Barlow’s Restaurant in Rochester.

She was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the St. Charles American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.  In her memory, we will think about the thousands of people she made laugh. 

She is survived by her children, Robert (Jan) Eckles of Black River Falls, Liz (Roy) Adam (Nee Eckles) of Winter, CA, William “Bill” Eckles of St. Charles and Loren (Amy) Balcome of St. Charles; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; sisters, Betty and Gloria; her mother; and granddaughter, Jennifer.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with the Reverend James Callahan officiating.

Burial took place at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Please share a memory of Shirley in her online guest book at www.hofffuneral.com and view her video tribute when it becomes available.