Shirley Lucas to celebrate 90th birthday with July 25 open house

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Shirley Louise (Balsar) Lucas of Davenport will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house on Sunday, July 25. All friends and family are invited to call from 1-3 p.m. at Eldridge United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd St., Eldridge. No gifts, please.

Shirley Louise Rand was born July 27, 1931, in Keokuk. She was married to Wayne Balsar from 1953-1976, and to Arthur Lucas from 1987 until his death in 2003.

As a young mother, she stayed at home to raise her four children and help on the family farm. As the kids entered school, she managed a fabric store in Kewanee, Ill., later working as a bookkeeper/accountant at Martin Engineering in Neponset, Ill., and, after moving to the Quad Cities in 1983, at Russell Electric in Bettendorf. She retired from Russell in 1992.

She is an active member of Eldridge United Methodist Church and Order of the Eastern Star, rising to the position of Worthy Matron. She is a voracious reader, and a fabulous seamstress, eventually quilting in later years.

She is the mother of Cathy Jo “CJ” (Dennis) Albertson of Davenport, Conda (Dave) McFee of Channahon, Ill., Clint (Ticia) Balsar of Park View, and the late Craig (Carol) Balsar. Her grandchildren are John (Lora) Albertson of Summerville, S.C., Brandon Balsar of Las Vegas, Cayla Balsar of Iowa City, Drew Richardson of Davenport, Shane (Shelly) Dolieslager of Ottawa, Ill., Kylie McFee of Lexington, Ky., Jordan Jones of Park View, and Charlie Balsar of Chicago. She has five great-grandchildren.

Shirley Lucas, birthdays, family news

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