Vada Birhanzl, of Montevideo, died Monday, August 16, 2010 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 73. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 20, 2010 at 10:00 AM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Rev. Marie Eckberg will officiate and interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday afternoon and evening at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo with the family present from 5-7:00 PM and a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Vada Glea (Sharkey) Birhanzl was born July 9, 1937 at Sommers, IA the daughter of Laurence and Iola (Pierce) Sharkey. She moved with her family to Clarkfield, MN in 1949 and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1956. Vada attended Northwestern School of Nursing in Minneapolis. She was united in marriage with Lowell Birhanzl March 29, 1958 at Spring Creek Lutheran Church of rural Clarkfield. They later moved to Montevideo and she continued her nurses training at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Vada worked as a nurse at the Chippewa - County Montevideo Hospital and Clinic and later at Luther Haven. She enjoyed reading, woodcarving, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family. She was active at Our Saviors Lutheran Church where she served on the Alter Guild, as a Sunday School and Confirmation Teacher, and as a children's choir director. She is survived by her husband, Lowell; three children: Gregg (and Mary) Birhanzl of Montevideo, MN, Karin (and Ron) Koenen of Clara City, MN, and Karla (and Jack) Anderson of Montevideo, MN; seven grandchildren: Travis (Kati) Birhanzl, Shantel (Andy) Kinman, Kelsey (Mike) Bristle, Aric (Aftan) Koenen, Ethan Koenen, Kendyl Anderson, and Cal Anderson; three great-grandchildren: Emmary and Kory Birhanzl and Jayla Kinman and baby Bristle who is coming in March; and one sister, Linda (Ron) Schwartz of Rapid City, SD. Preceding her in death were her parents and a brother, Larry Sharkey.