Shirley Pfaff McGrory Hof

   Shirley Pfaff McGrory Hof, 100, of Sioux City, Iowa passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 24, 2023 with her family by her side.

   Shirley was born on March 9, 1923, one of four children born to Fred and Anna (Edwards) Pfaff.   Shirley attended Sioux City Schools and graduated with honors from Central High School in 1941. She went on to receive her two-year certification in teaching from Wayne State College and in the fall of 1943, she began teaching 3^rd and 4^th graders in Ireton, Iowa. While living and teaching in Ireton, she met her first love, Francis V. “Bud” McGrory, they married and moved back to Sioux City. Shirley became a substitute teacher in the Sioux City Schools and eventually their family expanded with three sons.

   In August 1969, Bud died while on the job at Iowa Public Service. Shirley raised her three sons alone, attending literally hundreds of sporting events and school functions. Her home became a beehive of activity for neighborhood kids, with cheese sandwiches and cookies available on demand.  She worked at West Side Market as an accountant/bookkeeper and guided her sons to college and their successful futures.

   In April of 1990, Shirley married her second love, friend, neighbor and card playing companion, Wilbur Hof. They were married for 33 years until Wilbur passed away a year ago at the age of 106. Wilbur said that Shirley was the love of his life and keeping her happy kept him happy.

   Religion was a centerpiece of Shirley’s life and she felt closest to God when attending Whitfield United Methodist Church regularly for over 75 years. She was an active member on the Church Council and volunteered on numerous fundraisers, including making peanut brittle for the holidays for over 50 years. Shirley was an avid card player, belonging to multiple bridge clubs and occasionally bringing home winnings from the local casinos. Shirley enjoyed travel, was well read, and could always engage in lively discussion of the political and current issues of the day. All of Shirley’s children and grandchildren played sports and she never missed watching them play. She attended hundreds of baseball, basketball, volleyball and soccer games, cheering from the stands admiring how naturally better her children and grandchildren were than the other players. Nothing lit up Shirley more than to hear about a grandchild’s accomplishments or the upcoming birth of a great grandchild.  One of Shirley’s favorite joys was Sunday night dinners with her family and bringing her famous chocolate cakes and pies.

   Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; late husbands, Francis “Bud” McGrory and Wilbur Hof; son, Mike McGrory; and three siblings Dan Pfaff, Lou Pfaff and Betty Krause.

   Survivors include her two sons: Mark McGrory and wife Ginny of Kansas City and Steve McGrory and wife Cheryl of Sioux City; seven grandchildren: Nick, Heather, Matt, Brooke, Bill, Garrett and Grant; eight great grandchildren; and three stepchildren: Jane Brubaker, Milly McCullough, and Galen (Jackie) Hof.

   Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Burial will follow at Logan Park Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.