Shirley Elizabeth Carlberg was born on December 31, 1928, in rural Ida County to Roy and Gertrude Hoefling Carlberg. She was baptized as an infant on April 14, 1929, at Salem Reformed Church in rural Odebolt. She became a member of the Odebolt United Methodist Church on June 9, 1946. Shirley attended Clinton No. 4 Country School through the eighth grade and graduated from Odebolt High School in 1946.

On February 28, 1947, Shirley was united in marriage to Donald William Sykes. Two sons were born to this union: Dennis Ray and Dale Alan. They farmed for 18 years on the Sykes’ family farm in Crawford County then moved to Odebolt in December of 1964, and immediately Shirley started working as bookkeeper for Ray and Dale’s Plumbing and Heating. She was employed at Ritz Paint and Glass and as clerk at Bill’s IGA and Herb’s Foodland before going to Great Plains Supply Company as bookkeeper for nearly nine years. Shirley was also employed as a teller at First Federal Savings and Loan, retiring in 1981.

Shirley was a member of Wheeler Improvement Club since 1947, 50-year member Order of Eastern Star, ISIS Club, United Methodist Women and Ruth Circle, and past member of Tri-M’s of the United Methodist Church.

Those left to mourn her passing include her sons: Dennis Sykes and wife Laura of Kiron, Iowa, and Dale Sykes and wife Joann of Odebolt, Iowa; her granddaughter Gayle Strom and husband Greg of Storm Lake, Iowa; and grandson Gary Sykes and wife Jennifer of Kiron, Iowa. Other survivors include her sister Rita Frahm and husband Jerry of Ida Grove, Iowa; brother Roger Carlberg and wife Diane of Eagle, Idaho; and sister-in-law Bonnie Carlberg of Leon, Iowa; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Shirley was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister who enjoyed her family and friends, and cherished time spent with her grandchildren, Gayle and Gary. She enjoyed gardening and playing cards.

Shirley Sykes, 78, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on January 7, 2007, at Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center in Odebolt, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Donald on May 16, 1994; brother Richard Carlberg, and nephew Brent Steuk.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11th, at the United Methodist Church in Odebolt with Rev. Kathy Spracklin officiating. Burial will be at the Odebolt Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 5:00-8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 10th, at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Odebolt, with an Eastern Star Service at 7:00 p.m. by Chapter No. 471 O.E.S., of Arthur, Iowa.