Shirley L. Desemo (Wurm) (1936–2025)
On October 10, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, Shirley L. Desemo (Wurm) passed peacefully at her daughter’s home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, walking gently from this life into the light and love of our Lord. During the last two months of her life, we were blessed to share many special moments with her; offering love and comfort.
Shirley was born on May 4th, 1936, to Leonard F. and Lucy M. Wurm (Schartz) in Larned, Kansas, and was raised on the family farm nearby. She often reminisced about her many childhood adventures: learning to drive a tractor, flying in her father’s airplane, cooking hearty meals for the farmhands, and tending to the chickens. One memory that never faded was the day she discovered a snake under a hen while collecting eggs, a startling moment that she delighted in retelling throughout her life.
Shirley’s lifetime spanned an era of remarkable change. She often marveled at how far the world had come from her family’s old crank phone on a shared party line, where every neighbor had a distinct ring, to today’s cell phones connecting loved ones across the globe. She remembered when her family’s icebox cooled food with a single block of ice, long before modern refrigeration. Through each generation of innovation, Shirley remained curious, adaptable, and in awe of the world’s progress .
Shirley was also known for her independent spirit and quiet determination, even as a young school girl. She was incensed that the schoolboys were allowed traveling sports teams while the girls were not. Once, when the boys left for an away game, Shirley rallied all the girls to skip school, a bold, spirited act of protest that captured her lifelong sense of fairness and courage to stand up for what was right.
She loved her siblings (Juanita, Joe, and Glenda) and often spoke of memories with them when they were growing up. A natural caregiver, Shirley took on the care of her two younger siblings while completing her studies and graduating from Larned High School in 1954.
Later that year, Shirley married her love, Joseph B. Desemo, in August. Together they raised four wonderful children. There was also a period of time that she helped care for her young sister in-laws Sarah and Suzy.
Throughout her life, she made her home in several Kansas towns while growing up and raising a family that included Larned, Garden City, Dodge City, and Great Bend, as well as brief stays in Boulder, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Then in her fifties, she relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was for the remainder of her life.
Shirley was a loving mother, involved in her children’s lives. While much of her early life was centered on raising her family, she also pursued a variety of careers. She worked as a real estate agent, a bookkeeper for Pepsi-Cola, and an insurance agent for Bankers Life, and later in life she managed her farmland and crops in cooperation with her dedicated farmers. Despite having no formal training in agriculture, she proved remarkably adept at marketing her grain, a reflection of her intelligence and intuition.
A natural athlete, Shirley excelled in sports. She was a talented fast-pitch softball pitcher as a young woman, enjoyed bowling in the Dodge City leagues, and later discovered a lasting passion for tennis. She perfected a cunning slice and competed in numerous tournaments, always relishing the game’s challenge and camaraderie.
Shirley also possessed a creative and nurturing spirit. She loved cooking and rarely relied on recipes, a talent she passed down to some of her children. A voracious reader, she devoured books of all kinds, and she also had a gift for writing witty poems and clever quips. Her green thumb was legendary; flowers and plants seemed to flourish under her care.
Her love of adventure extended beyond the home. Shirley enjoyed traveling to Europe, Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii; but her heart was most at peace in Mexico, especially Cabo San Lucas. She loved inviting family and friends to join her and returned often as the beaches and the Sea of Cortez continually drew her back.
Those who knew Shirley will remember her for her independence, resilience, honesty, and zest for life, qualities that made her admired and loved. She never met a stranger and forged lifelong friendships wherever she went. Her laughter and warmth filled every room and she had a rare gift for bringing people together. In her later years, she joined a singles group, serving on its board and frequently hosting dinners and gatherings. Wherever she lived, she became the heart of her neighborhood, organizing get-togethers and building connections that turned neighbors into friends.
As a grandmother, whether in person or across the miles, she loved supporting her grandchildren. She delighted in attending her grandchildren’s school activities and sporting events, cheering from the stands and showing off her favorite cheer.
In 2020, Shirley moved to Coronado Villa (a 55+ independent living community in Albuquerque) where she spent five happy years and made many new friends and memories.
Shirley is survived by her children: Dan Desemo (Kathy) of Alden, KS; Jennifer Turk of Jourdanton, TX; and Ann Baca (Chris) of Albuquerque, NM. Her legacy continues through her surviving eight beloved grandchildren: Sara Butler (Cade), Scott Behee, Kristy Behee, Chase Behee, Joanna Farr (Joseph), Kalin Baca, Kolten Baca, and Kilah Baca — and six great-grandchildren: Breeley Butler, Cayson Butler, Joseph Farr, Luke Farr, Mason Farr, and Hunter Farr.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Leonard Wurm; siblings Juanita Davis, Glenda Hitschmann, and Joseph Wurm; former husband Joe Desemo; daughter Debi Desemo (formerly married to Max Behee); and grandsons Ryan Desemo (Melissa) and Jonathon Turk.
In God’s care now, her light will continue to shine from heaven; gentle, warm and everlasting. Her memories will be forever a blessing to all who knew her.
Because of her lifelong love of flowers, friends and family are invited to honor her memory by sending floral tributes, which she would have adored, or if they prefer, by making a donation to the American Heart Association in her memory.
Larned, KS: A service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, KS with Father Warren Stecklein presiding.
Visitation will be on Friday, November 7, 2025, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, KS with family being present between 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery following the service.
Albuquerque, NM: A casual celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 3:00pm at Coronado Villa in Albuquerque, NM.