Shirley Hielscher
Shirley Daunita (Gill) Hielscher of Holyoke died March 20, 2022, in Sterling at the age of 85. Shirley was born in Dover on June 26, 1936, to Wilbur and Sarah (Davis) Gill.
Shirley, along with her brothers Rod and Scott and sister Barb, grew up along the tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railroad. They lived in Frazier, East Portal, Nederland, Rollinsville, Tabernash, Pueblo, Grand Junction and Helper, Utah — wherever the duties of her father as roadmaster took them.
She loved telling tales of their adventures growing up along the tracks and one-room schoolhouses. She had a love of math, science, dance and performing in school plays. Shirley graduated from Carbon High School in Price, Utah, in 1954.
Shirley met her husband, Earl Hielscher, while visiting with her aunt and uncle, Pauline and Ralph Ayers, in Iliff. They married on Aug. 28, 1954, in Denver. She worked alongside her husband in farming in the Iliff area from 1954-1976 when they moved to Holyoke to continue farming from 1976-2000 when their son Rich took over the hard labor for them. During this time, they raised six kids.
Shirley loved attending all the junior high and high school football, basketball, wrestling, concerts and especially Victoria’s school plays. Then came the love of playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She said, “The more noise we made, the happier we were.”
During her spare time, she enjoyed gardening and canning. She was famous in her family for her homemade donuts and Christmas candies and always had a house full for the holidays. One of Shirley’s greatest loves was walking, and she could always be seen walking through the town of Holyoke.
Shirley also volunteered at the nursing home in Holyoke, with AWANA at her church and at Mesa Verde National Park. In her later years she developed a love of travel, going horseback riding in Alaska, swimming with stingrays in Antigua, whale watching and hiking at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, and all the national parks.
Shirley is survived by her sister, Barb Gill of Weaver, Alabama; sons, Richard and Gail Hielscher of Holyoke, Gordon and Misty Hielscher of Holyoke, Jim and Kim Hielscher of Greeley, and Dennis and Deb Hielscher of Sterling; daughters, Victoria Hielscher of Euless, Texas, and Cindy Hielscher of Holyoke; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 27 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Earl; parents, Wilbur and Sarah; brothers, Roderic Gill and Scott Gill; grandson, Brett Hielscher; and step-grandson, Matt Whaley.
The memorial service was held March 28 at First Baptist Church in Holyoke. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.