Shirley J. Wax, 84, of Grinnell, died on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the Grinnell Health Care Center. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell. A private family burial will be on Friday. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the Shirley Wax Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Shirley was born on February 29, 1928, in rural Benton County, Iowa to Leslie and Elsie Shafer Moore. She graduated from Garrison High School and attended Iowa State University for one year. Shirley worked as a claims supervisor at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. She retired after 25 years. On July 10, 1949, she married Herman Calvin Wax in Vinton, Iowa. Together they had six children; Gail, James, Wayne, John, Stephen and Sue Ellen. Shirley enjoyed sewing, embroidering, crocheting and ceramics. She always held an interest in architecture and history. She was a member of the Presbyterian Women's Group and was a Deacon. Shirley and Herman often went square dancing and while Herman rooted for the Cyclones, Shirley cheered for the Hawkeyes. Since Shirley was a leap year baby, she finally turned 21 this year. She is survived by her daughter, Gail (Earl) Moses of Mico, Texas; sons, James Wax of Grinnell, Wayne (Cindy) Wax of Joliet, Illinois and John (LeAnn) Wax of Marshalltown; six grandchildren, Matt (Jenn) Moses, Karen Moses, Nicole (Brian) Poling, Joseph (Maggie) Wax, Jason (Jessica) Marken and Brett Wax; seven great grandchildren, Alex, Brian Jr., Sebastian, Lillian, Evelyn, Madelynn and Victoria; with an eighth on the way and one brother, Robert (Rita) Moore of Vinton, Iowa. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herman on June 3, 2012; son, Stephen Wax; daughter, Sue Ellen Wax and one granddaughter, Amy.