Shirley Mae (Nelson) LOBDELL NICHOLSON

NICHOLSON, NELSON, SHAW, LOBDELL, TURNER, EEKHOFF, MILLER, COOK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/13/2010 at 10:45:29

01/12/2010
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Shirley M. Nicholson, 77, Belmond, died January 9, 2010 at the Rehabiltation Center of Belmond. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning, January 13 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church of rural Belmond. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery. The family suggests memorials in Shirley's name to a charity of the donor's choice.

Shirley Mae, the daughter of Oscar N. and Carrie (Shaw) Nelson, was born November 7, 1932 in Belmond. She graduated from Belmond High School in 1950. Shirley attended cosmetology school in Des Moines and later owned her own beauty shop in Belmond. She was the activity director at the Belmond Care Center for 29 years, and she also directed the operation of the beauty shop there, where her focus was making the residents' lives brighter. Many high school students did job shadowing with Shirley. She enjoyed educating them and being in their company. She married Jack Lobdell in 1954. Family members recall Sunday afternoon fishing excursions and picnics to Morse Lake. The day would often conclude with a trek to the cafe at Lake Cornelia for a treat. Jack died in 1968, and Shirley became even more focused on the needs of their children. Shirley married Eugene "Nick" Nicholson in 1973. The couple enjoyed bowling in the couples league and following the many activities of the family. Shirley's children have great memories of fishing trips to the pit on the Iowa River and other family happenings. Shirley and Nick enjoyed the journey of married life until Nick died in 1996. Shirley was a long time member of St. John Lutheran Church in Belmond, and more recently St. Olaf Lutheran Church. She was a long time member of the VFW Auxiliary Post #4244. Shirley was an avid bingo player and looked forward to each opportunity, whether it was locally or an excursion to other places with Nick and family and friends. Shirley's passion for bingo was only equaled by her love of playing cards, be it times spent with the Tuesday 31 Card Club, Royal Rummy Club, a friendly game of cribbage, or intense competitions with a teammate playing 500. She recently won the Belmond Hospital 500 Bridge Marathon with one of her favorite partners, grandson Ryan Lobdell. Shirley's children and grandchildren will miss her homemade caramels, anise candy, caramel corn, and other treats.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; son Kurt Lobdell; and brother Robert "Ozzie" Nelson. Survivors include her daughter Kim Lobdell of Iowa City; sons Brett (Sonja) Lobdell of Belmond, Blake (Jane) Lobdell of Clear Lake, and Tracy (Stacey) Lobdell of Marshalltown; sisters Genevieve (Ralph) Turner and Marilyn (George) Eekhoff; brother Eugene (Marge) Nelson; sister-in-law Em Nelson, all of Belmond; grandchildren Kellie and Kyle Miller, Ryan and Reece Lobdell and Kristina "Tina" Cook, and Bryce and Colin Lobdell; and great grandchildren Jordan and Keyra Cook.