Merlyn Jane 'Myrt' (Lau) Shankwitz

Shankwitz (nee Lau), Merlyn "Myrt" Jane died October 21, 2019 at her home in Minneapolis after a brief illness. She said on her 90th birthday that "I had 89 1/2 really good years." Myrt was born in Merrill, WI on July 6, 1929 to Herman and Gertrude Lau. She was a 1947 graduate of Merrill High School. She married Robert F. Shankwitz on June 16, 1951, in Merrill. Myrt worked as a bookkeeper at Ideals Publishing in Milwaukee, WI until February 1956 when she became chief engineer of family operations in anticipation of the birth of her daughter Wendy. Myrt lived in Milwaukee, WI; Oswego, IL; Edelstein, IL; Bettendorf, IA; and Minneapolis, MN. In addition to being the World's Greatest Mom, she was an avid (and good) golfer, a card shark (Canasta and Tripoli were favorites), a church choir singer, a loving and doting grand-mother, and an all-around buddy to friends and acquaintances alike. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Gertrude; husband, Robert; brother, Alty and sister, Donna. She is survived by brothers, Herb and Ron; children, Wendy (Jon) Nissen, Craig (Kathleen) Shankwitz, Phil (Diane) Shankwitz; grandkids, Amelia, Alex (Chelsii), Meredith, Annika; and great-granddaughter, Yuri. Per her wishes, no services will be held. We will all miss her kindness, love, and terrific sense of humor.

Published on October 27, 2019