Shea, Gerry (Monk)

May 26, 1930 – August 8, 2020

Age 90, formerly of Bowdon, later of Long Prairie, Minn., and most recently of Waconia, Minn., passed away recently in Spring Park, Minn.

Born Gerardine Helen Monk in Bowdon, Gerry grew up on the family farm off Hwy. 52. She graduated from Heaton High School in 1947, going on to attend what were then Valley City State Teachers College in Valley City and Moorhead State College in Moorhead, Minn. Gerry's wedding to Paul Shea took place in Sykeston in 1951.

Her 34-year career in elementary education, which started at Cottonwood School, included 25 years teaching fourth and fifth grades as well as remedial reading at what was then Long Prairie Public School. A creative spirit, "Mrs. Shea" endeavored to make learning fun with an unusual approach that turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. Gerry was full of vim and vigor at home, too, experimenting in the kitchen, taking photos to enter in the county fair, going country western dancing and finding humor at every opportunity.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Henry and Katharine Monk; brother Marcus Monk; sister Carol Monk; and brother-in-law Laurence Svoboda. Survivors include her husband, Paul, of Spring Park, Minn.; son David Shea of Waconia; daughters Peggy Shea (Joshua Weinstein) of Watertown, Minn., and Kitty Shea of Minnetrista, Minn.; grandson Charley Hagen of Duluth, Minn.; and sister Norma Svoboda of Grand Forks.

Interment will be at the Heaton Cemetery. Memorials in Gerry's honor may be made to Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, P.O. Box 47, Zimmerman, MN 55398, or online at https://mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/donate/ .