Shirley Mae (Cain) Hillrichs, 96, of Akron, IA, was called to her heavenly home on September 16, 2025, at the Akron Care Center surrounded by friends and family.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 22, 2025, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron, Iowa. Reverend Tim Geitz will officiate. Burial will follow at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Craig, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time and following the service during a time of lunch and fellowship, all at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

She was 96 years old. Shirley was born in rural Ireton, IA on November 8, 1928, to Lester and Hilda (Treiber) Cain. She attended schools in rural Sioux County. She loved school and was a good student and excelled in spelling. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She was a long-time attendee at St. John's Lutheran Church in Craig, IA.

Shirley met Robert Hillrichs in Hawarden, IA at a dance and life became one long adventure. She married Robert on December 10, 1947, in Ireton, IA. They lived on several small farms in the Akron area their entire married life. Shirley and Robert had two children, Sheryl and Randy. Robert passed away on January 1, 2000. Randy passed away June 5, 2013. Shirley enjoyed life and absolutely loved children. She was employed by the Akron daycare center for 10 years where she cared for many children like they were her own.

She loved the kids, and they loved her. They lovingly referred to her as "Sugar." Shirley loved cooking and baking and completing word search puzzles. She loved a good joke and had a great sense of humor.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Miller of Akron, IA, sister Ardis (Dallas) Huebner of Hawarden, IA, sister-in-law, Barb Cain of Sioux City, IA, sister-in-law, Marilyn Hillrichs, and many nieces, nephews, and special friends and relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert Hillrichs, son, Randy Hillrichs, son-in-law, Dave Miller, her in-laws, Henry Jr. and Kathryn (Westergard) Hillrichs.

She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Erlyn (Shirley) Cain and Kenneth Cain, her in-laws, Lois (Ervin) Stevens, Lowell (Cornelia) Hillrichs, Donald Hillrichs, and Darlene Hillrichs.

The family would like to show their appreciation to the Akron Care Center staff for their wonderful care.