Shirley Verna (Bahn) Hakes

life story

Her passion was children; she was ahead of her time.

Shirley was an early proponent of Early Childhood Education, teaching pre-school kids was her passion. Armed with a teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa, she was an integral part in building the Congregational Nursery School--the first school of its kind-- in Austin, MN in the 1960's.

Shirley Hakes died at the home she shared with husband Herb Hakes on Spirit Lake near Aitkin Minnesota. They were happily married to each other for 51 years. The loves of their lives were their four grandchildren: Meghan, Chris, Ally and Jake.