Shirley Albert

Shirley Ann Albert, 90, of LaPaz, died of natural causes at her residence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday October 6, 2020. She was the daughter and only child of Milo and Ruth (Sweisberger) Crum, born on August 29, 1930 in South Bend. Shirley spoke often and fondly of her childhood spent on the family farm in Lapaz growing food, tending animals, and farming mint, which they supplied to Lehman's Mints in Bremen, Indiana. She also spent many days at the Oliver Estate, of Oliver Chilled Plow, in South Bend, Indiana with her father, who was employed as chauffeur. There she was afforded many experiences atypical for the average Depression-era farm girl and for that she was forever grateful. Shirley graduated valedictorian from LaPaz High School in 1948. She loved academics and sports. Her Hoosier values were reflected in her frequent mentioning that when she was in school, they always took time off for harvest and basketball playoffs. She and her husband, Robert “Bob” Albert were high school sweethearts and were married on August 21, 1948, in LaPaz. They had two children. In her lifetime, Shirley was co-owner and co-operator of several successful family businesses including the former Albert Bowling Lanes (where she was a formidable competitive bowler) and Albert Farms, still in operation today. Shirley was an especially hard worker and approached all tasks, not only with diligence and duty, but with thoughtfulness and meticulous attention to detail. Her stunning peony garden, started by her father and tended lovingly until the day she died, was the envy of many a passer-by. From harvest-time picnic lunches to Santa Claus cookies with faces painstakingly etched by toothpick to masterfully crocheted gifts to personalized poems in every birthday card, Shirley's family were always the lucky recipients of her love and generosity. A knowledgeable antique collector and steward of family heirlooms, she created heirlooms as well, hand-crafting many of the items she and Bob gifted family members. She loved attending her children and grandchildren's sporting events, and though Shirley was indeed kind and warm, she would not hesitate to tell a referee they'd made a bad call. Her reputation for sweetness coexisted in equal measure with her reputation for toughness. Shirley loved riding her bicycle, breathing fresh air, and earning the satisfaction of a job well-done. She will ultimately be remembered for her devotion to family and family ventures, her creativity and artist's spirit, and her words of caution to those she loved, always offered with a wink: "Don't work too hard." Shirley A. Albert was preceded in death by her husband Robert H. Albert. She is survived by son David (Susan) Albert and daughter, Deborah (Robert) Konopinski, all of LaPaz. Four grandchildren survive: grandson Kane Shuppert, granddaughter Ruth Albert, and grandsons John and Jacob Albert. Six great-grandchildren also survive: Kaneda and Quinn Shuppert, Olive and Noam Laurence, and Molly and Jax Albert. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum of the Bremen Cemetery, Bremen, IN.