Agnes G Shurr

Agnes G. Shurr, 99, Grand Forks, ND died Saturday, January 10, 2015 in Valley Memorial Home Eldercare. Agnes was born on October 18, 1915 to Fredrick and Helen Shurr. After graduating from Glenburn High School Agnes began her life of service to others. She entered St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing, the same nursing school her mother had attended. Upon receiving her RN, Agnes enlisted in the United States Navy on March 1, 1937, retiring in 1958. She was on the Hospital Ship Solace stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She became a flight nurse during the Korean War, airlifting badly injured military personnel from various military hospitals in Japan, to Tripler Hospital in Hawaii then to Travers Air Force in California. While in the navy she was trained as a nurse anesthetist. Upon retirement from the navy, she returned to Grand Forks, to start a school for nurse anesthetists at St. Michael's Hospital. Agnes left St. Michael's in 1963 to join the World Health Organization. She was sent by WHO to Afghanistan for two years. Agnes then attended Columbia University obtaining her masters degree. Again returning to Grand Forks, this time as a Professor in the University of North Dakota's School of Nursing. Upon her retirement for UND, she spent time volunteering in the Same Day Surgery at ALTRU. Agnes' life was spent in loving service to this nation, her family, and educating young people to also serve in medicine. Living in Grand Forks or stationed around the world, "Aunt Aggie" was always a vital, loving, supportive, member to her large extended family. Her love, kindness and support will be truly missed by all the members of this family. Many thanks for the years of care and kindness shown to Aggie by her niece Marion Hahn and the Hahn family. She is survived by a sister Mary Jane Gall and 14 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Hazel O'Connell, Harriet Shurr, brother Raymond "Pug" Shurr, and two nephews Edward O'Connell and Joe O'Connell. Funeral Services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the funeral home. Military honors will be conducted by representatives of the U.S. Navy and the North Dakota Army National Guard. Burial will be 12:00 PM Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery of Mandan, North Dakota