Shirley Bartachek, 92, of Brooklyn, died on Monday, November 17, 2025 at Brooklyn Community Estate and under the care of UnityPoint Hospice – Grinnell.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 am, Friday, November 21, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn with Pastor Lisa Whitmarsh Peterson officiating. Interment will be in Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Michael J. Manatt Community Center in Brooklyn.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the Smith Funeral Home in Brooklyn and the family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Memorials may be designated to the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn or to UnityPoint Hospice - Grinnell and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 342, Brooklyn, IA 52211. Online condolences may be shared with Shirley's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Shirley May Goodrich was born in Malcom, Iowa to Virgil and Mary (VanTomme) Goodrich. She was raised on the family farm near Malcom and she graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1950.

On April 28, 1951, she married Eugene Fred Bartachek at the First Presbyterian Church parsonage in Brooklyn, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in love, faith, and family.

Shirley devoted her early years to raising her children and later worked as a cook at BGM Schools for 14 years. She and Gene built their home in Brooklyn in 1963, where she cultivated a beautiful garden and a warm, welcoming space for family gatherings, especially during her favorite time of year, Christmas.

A woman of strong community spirit, Shirley was active in the Brooklyn 4-H Club, Bear Creek Pepper Uppers, and CWW (Community Welfare Workers). Shirley held a deep faith and she was a 72-year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, where she taught bible school, helped in the nursery, was active on the funeral lunch committee, and served as an elder and deacon. She helped establish the Brooklyn girls' softball leagues, sold Avon, and cared for elderly neighbors with kindness and dedication. She found joy in attending her grandchildren's school and athletic events and sharing her love of flowers and family traditions. Shirley will be remembered for her strong will, generous heart, and unwavering devotion to her family.

She is survived by her sons, John (Bonita) Bartachek and Lavern (Julie) Bartachek of Brooklyn; her daughters, Diane (Chuck)

Thornton and Danean (Kurt) Hatton of Cedar Rapids, Lisa (Jim) Mulholland of Grinnell, and Janet (Alan) Faas of Brooklyn; twelve grandchildren, Dawn (Bryan) McGlothlin, Phil (Amy) Bartachek, Nicole (Mac) Dhooge, Brian (Rachael) Bartachek, Amber Bartachek, Jake Bartachek, Brent (Shreya) Thornton, Brooke (Alex) Foarde, Alicia (Johvet) Mulholland, Andria Mulholland, Matthew (Lexi) Faas and Chase (Kylie) Faas; and twelve great-grandchildren, Tyler, Dylan, Ethan, Lucas, Katie, Isaac, Elijah, Levi, Jordan, Quinn, Serena, William, Isabella, Rosemary, Brooks, Julian, Caleb, and Henry; her sisters-in-law, Dolores Nix of Buckley, WA, Peg Bartachek of Brooklyn, and Mert Goodrich of Marengo, IA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gene in 2018; and her siblings, Alverda Rhoads, Gerald Goodrich, and Wayne Goodrich.