Shirley “Shirl” G. (Gerzan) Malina, age 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, March 25, 2021 at Columbus Regional Hospital. She was a resident of Nashville.
Shirl was born August 29, 1935, in Lombard, Illinois to the late Herbert A. and Adeline F. (Fleege) Gerzan. She married her true love & best friend, Robert "Bob" J. Malina on April 23, 1960 in Lombard, Illinois. He preceded her in death on November 4, 2014 after a short 54 years of happiness and experiencing the best things in life together.
Shirl was a 1953 graduate of Glenbard High School in Glen Ellen, Illinois. She then went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1957 from Valparaiso University. She loved learning and her strong desire to be an educator, motivated her to achieve her Master's Degree in Education from North Illinois University in 1970. From 1958 to 1996, Shirl was passionate & dedicated to teaching the students in the Chicago area. She not only was an educator, but also served as Principal in both the Parochial School, the Missouri Lutheran & Roman Catholic Church Schools in and around the Chicago area. When Shirl moved to Indiana, she served as the Group Student Support Programmer for Indiana University in Bloomington.
Shirl loved living in Brown County where she could continue to experience strong friendships with her neighbors & friends and interact in the arts. Her positive outlook & unique way of looking at life's journey encouraged those closest to her. Shirl's home was welcoming and educational to anyone who crossed her threshold. She was fond of the wildlife that graced her patio and front yard. Visiting with Shirl was always an exciting adventure because she was an avid collector of the most unusual things. Her stories of each trinket and artifact left her friends wanting to spend more time with her.
Shirl's life had a unique spiritual quality to it, even though it might have seemed unorthodox to many. The twinkle in her eye let you know that she was connected to a greater Being and always had his/her ear. She was a member of the Morgantown United Methodist Church and enjoyed partaking in fellowship and outreach opportunities.
Shirl planned prior to her death to share her Celebration of Life with her dearest friends and has invited them to attend a tribute to her at the Morgantown United Methodist Church: 20 East Washington Street in Morgantown, on Saturday, April 10th. Visiting hours will be from 10 a.m. until the reading of her eulogy at 11 a.m. Those who attend are asked to don a hat in her memory.
Services have been entrusted to Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry Street in Morgantown.
Shirl insists that no flowers be sent, but instead to make memorial contributions in honor of Shirl to the Brown County Humane Society, PO Box 746, Nashville, IN 47448; the Brown County Library, 205 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN 47448 or to the Morgantown United Methodist Church, "Building Fund", PO Box 226, Morgantown, IN 46160.
Condolences may be sent to www.meredith-clark.com.
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