Shirline (Sands) Kelsheimer, age 86, of Anthon, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Mitchell Hospice House of Sioux City, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Anthon Church of Christ of Anthon, Iowa. Pastor Glenn Smith and Pastor Kody Killian will officiate. There will be an Honor Guard and Final Call by the Anthon Community Ambulance Service immediately following the service.
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Friday, January 9, 2026, with a Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m., at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa.
The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Anthon, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirline’s name may be made to Anthon Community Ambulance Service or the Anthon Church of Christ.
Shirline DeVonne (Sands) Kelsheimer, 86, of Anthon, IA passed away Monday December 29, 2025, at the Mitchell Hospice House surrounded by her family. Shirline was born July 22, 1939, at Lucky Valley, west of Anthon, IA. Her parents were Harold and Edna Martha Hannah (Heinse) Sands, and she grew up in Oto, IA and graduated with the class of 1958 at Oto High School.
Shirline met her sweetheart Jimmy Kelsheimer at the picture show, and they were married on August 24, 1958, at the Church of Christ in Anthon. They were blessed with three children, Debra, Jamie, and Troy. They celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2023. Jimmy passed in 2024, and Shirline, although heartbroken, kept going like the strong woman we all knew she was.
Over the years, Shirline worked as a waitress at the Anthon Café, was a bookkeeper at Fullerton Lumber yard, worked sales at Jim Goodwin’s Kent Feed and as a CNA at the Correctionville Care Center. All this before she began a 27-year career at MercyOne Hospital, formerly Marian Health Center. She served as a unit secretary on the 7th floor, and from what we’ve heard, she ran a tight ship, right up until she retired in 2004.
Shirline loved to travel and was always up for the next adventure, she was currently preparing to go on a cruise with her daughter-in-law. She had traveled to Hawaii, Europe, all over the U.S. on bus trips, and way too many trips to Branson to count. But one of her favorite trips was a cruise to the Caribbean with her boys, their wives, and her husband Jim, back in 2015, where she went parasailing at the age of 76!!
Shirline was always ready to serve, whether it was at the Church of Christ in Anthon, where she was a lifelong member or on the Anthon Rescue Squad where she volunteered as an EMT for 24 years. She was instrumental in bringing the Freedom Rock to Anthon, IA. She helped at the Woodbury County Fair, Anthon Community Center, Community Basket Monthly Mobile Food Distribution, and anytime anyone asked her. Shirline loved to quilt and had made many beautiful quilts over the years. She was also known to have a green thumb, having plants and flowers all around her house and in the yard, Tyler and Troy carried many many plants into the house each fall and back out in the spring.
Of all the things Shirline enjoyed, her family was by far her most loved. She loved going to all her grandchildren’s events over the years. Whether it was watching Derek race, Brittany playing soccer, Tyler playing baseball, Anissa or Jaden in their school plays, Kelsey singing in the choir, or driving to Texas, with Jim, to watch Dedria and Sarah in their activities. And then when the great grandchildren arrived there were more softball games and soccer matches. She rarely missed a game or match, always following so closely that sometimes we had to tell her to stop yelling at the officials and coaches!
Shirline is survived by her children Debra Osborn (Dave Fowler) of Wills Point, TX and her daughter Sarah Burks and her children Konner and Zane Posigian, & Bryson of Canton, TX; Jamie (Tina) Kelsheimer of Windom, MN and their children Kelsey (Ryan) Dice and their children Kamryn, Jase, & Kaylin of Elk Point, SD, Derek (Destiny) Kelsheimer and their son Gannon and new baby arriving in April, of Windom, MN and Jaden (Alvarezz) James of Mankato, MN; Troy (Nikki) Kelsheimer of Climbing Hill, IA and their children Brittany (Ti) Taukeiaho and their children Brooklynn, Harper, and Emma, Anissa (Adam) Bolster of Carroll, IA and their daughter Calliope, Tyler (Michaela) Kelsheimer of Anthon, IA and their children Jolie and Jimmy. She is also survived by her siblings LeRoy (Juanita) Sands, Janice Ingram, and Marlene (Sam) Nelligan; sister & brothers-in-law Vera Baldwin and Bill Adkins; and many nieces and nephews.
Waiting for Shirline in Heaven are her husband Jimmy; her parents; siblings Delores Tucker and LaVonne Adkins; granddaughters Torie Kelsheimer (infancy), and Dedria Eddy (2016); and brother-in-law Newell Ingram.
Previous Events
Visitation
9
Jan
402 East Brady Street
Anthon, IA 51004
Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m.
Funeral Service
10
Jan
404 E Main
Anthon, IA 51004
Cemetery Details
Location
Anthon, IA 51004
