Shirley A. Grundmeier was born in July 26, 1924 in Mankato, Minnesota and died on April 27, 2018. She attended Mankato High School and after graduating in 1942, married and moved east. She was a secretary at Mankato’s West High’s audio visual center for 20 years. Grundmeier attended Mankato State University and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in music. In 1985 she received a master’s degree in music and in 1990, a master’s degree in theatre arts. Grundmeier married Winston Grundmeier in 1963. Her mother, brother, sister, and two grandchildren all graduated from Minnesota State University. She credits two professors as instrumental to her attending and completing college: Harry Fitterer and Marion Powers.