Randall Lee 'Randy' Shirek , 61, Minot and formerly of Michigan, ND area died Saturday December 3, 2016, in a Minot hospital from an apparent heart attack.

Randy was born April 14, 1955, in Michigan, ND to James Thomas and Stella (Mayer) Shirek. He was reared on the family farm near Lankin, received his elementary education at the Lambert #73 Country School and Whitman School, and completed his secondary education at Michigan High School graduating in 1973. He was active in athletics, and was a member of the '72-73' Michigan High School basketball team that was the first to represent Michigan in a State Class 'B' Tournament since 1917, where he was named to the all tournament team. He continued his education at Williston State College and Lake Region State College in Devils Lake. He then moved to Dickinson to work construction, returning to Michigan in 1979.

Randy married Joy Hoffmann on May 31, 1980 at St. John Lutheran Church in Embden, ND, and they made their home in Michigan until he took a position in Minot in 1981 with Portal Pipeline/Enbridge, where he continued to work for more than thirty-five years as a dispatcher, gauger and locator until his death.

Randy could strike up conversations with anyone. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling, his pinochle group, plotting his fantasy football lineups, hiking, kayaking, skiing, golfing, and playing volleyball and tennis. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent many hours on the lake ice fishing with his buddies and always looked forward to deer hunting with family each fall.

He and Joy had two boys who he spent countless hours with in the backyard and on the driveway playing almost every sport. As they grew up, he unselfishly gave up his own weekends to shuttle them around the state to their swim meets, basketball and baseball tournaments. As a shift worker it wasn't uncommon for him to attend sporting events throughout the state returning by midnight to go to work. After their high school and Vista careers ended, both boys competed for the Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team. He made numerous trips to Lincoln, watching Phil pitch in the College World Series and followed Charlie's professional career across the U.S. and in South Korea. Even after the boys finished their careers, he could be found at sporting events supporting the Magicians and providing a good conversation to all who wanted to talk about the game.

Randy's loving family includes his wife of 36 years, Joy; sons, Phil Shirek (significant other, Kiley Mack and her son Declan) of Minot and Charlie (Alyssa) Shirek of Lincoln, NE; mother, Stella Shirek of Lakota, ND; siblings, Bev (James) Sommerfeld of Horace, ND, James M. Shirek of Lankin, ND, Trisha (Harley) Wallace of San Tan Valley, AZ and Anthony (Laura) Shirek of Rochester, MN; mother-in-law, Dorothy (Scherweit) Hoffmann of Fargo, ND; brothers-in-law, Larry (Margaret) Hoffmann and Jack Hoffmann, both of Wheatland, ND and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, James Thomas Shirek, father-in-law, Arnold Hoffmann, and brother-in-law, Richard Hoffmann.

Celebration of the Life of Randy Shirek: Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment arrangements are pending.
Visitation: Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Minot Public School Foundation or to Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.