Betty Fitzgerald

Betty Mae (Bahr) Fitzgerald was born May 24, 1924, to Daniel and Mary (Andresen) Bahr in Dunlap, Iowa. She was raised in Dunlap and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1942. Betty moved to Des Moines and worked at an ammunition plant. She then went to Hawaii and worked at the defense plant at Hickman Field. While living in Hawaii, Betty was on a semi-pro basketball team and that team was the island champions. Betty moved to Chicago and worked for Bell Howell. Betty married Roy Smith in Chicago. The couple was blessed with one child, Marcy. Betty and Marcy returned to Dunlap and on May 25, 1954, Betty married James Fitzgerald at St. John Lutheran Church. The couple moved to a farm west of Dunlap in 1958. The couple owned and operated the Shamrock Inn in Dunlap. In 1964 Betty started working in the tavern. After selling the tavern, Betty worked at the Dunlap Care Center for 10+ years. After that she worked in home health care. James died in 1987. Betty moved into town in 1992.

Betty was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Dunlap where she was active in the WELCA. She was also a member of the Dunlap Historical Society and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed sewing, crossword puzzles, Scrabble and Cribbage. She also enjoyed reading.

Betty died on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home in Earling, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 10 months, and 14 days.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband James Fitzgerald; daughter-in-law, Dawn Fitzgerald; two grandsons, Jeffrey Allen Fitzgerald and Joseph William Fitzgerald; one great grandson, Kobie Garner; three brothers, Ray, Don and Roger Bahr, and three sisters, Clara Jochims, Della Rizzo and Lena Peterson. She is survived by her five children, Marcy (Dave) Peterson of Maltby, Washington, Marilyn (Denny) Kepford of Dunlap, Iowa, Jim Fitzgerald and Rachel Flores of Nopoma, California, Mike Fitzgerald and Chris Shank of Omaha, Nebraska, Mark Fitzgerald of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren; 10 great grand-children; sister, Lois Gundelach of Fiddletown, California; and many other relatives and friends.