- Date Of Birth: March 24, 1937
- Date Of Death: March 14, 2022
- State: Wisconsin
Shirley Pedersen, age 84, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022 at Arborview Court in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin with her family by her side.
Shirley was born on March 24, 1937 to Henry and Mary (Leininger) Reiman in Wisconsin Rapids. As a young girl, Shirley lived in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Kewanee, Illinois in 1947, when she was 10 years old. It was there that her family owned and operated a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership.
Shirley married Gerald Bauman in 1957 in Kewanee, IL. The marriage ended in divorce. She married Gilbert Pedersen on October 13, 1995. He preceded her in death in 2016.
She graduated from Kewanee High School in 1955 and from McConnel Airline School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1956. She was employed as an airline attendant with Eastern Airlines in Chicago at the time of her marriage to Gerald Bauman. Shirley would later work for Beatrice Food (Kerry Foods) for several years until her retirement.
At the age of 16, Shirley was the youngest girl in the Kewanee or Tri-County area to have a pilot’s license. She was an adventuresome teenager that flew her own plane, drove a car, and had a motorcycle license. She remained a motorcycle (Harleys only) enthusiast her entire life.
Without a single doubt, Shirley’s greatest joy came from spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It could be said that she lived to love them. She never missed an opportunity to go on a camping trip, or a softball game, or a shopping trip. Most of all, she was notorious for being the “feistiest” cheerleader in the crowd when her girls were at a barrel race. Shirley was filled with pride and joy for all of her children.
She is survived by her children: Brenda (James) DuPree of Vesper, Mark (Tammy) Bauman of Bloomer, and Valerie (Jerry) Malinowski of Woodville; grandchildren: Lindsey (David) Peters, Dr. Stormie Reiman (husband Chad Stevenson), Sarah Back and Marisa Back; great-grandchildren: Isabella Peters, Anna Peters, Taysha Mullen, and Everett Stevenson. She was preceded in death by her first husband Gerald; her parents; brother Roger Reiman; and a dear aunt Alice Beck.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Arborview Court for their very talented, patient and compassionate care of Shirley. We would also like to express a special note of gratitude to the entire Heartland Hospice team for the outstanding care they provided to mom and generous family support. Throughout the last several years of Shirley’s life, she enjoyed the company of several personal health care workers. Shirley would come to love these ladies and considered them her family. We would like to thank Kathy, Karen, Bonnie, Joelle, and especially Tina and Gunta for the many visits they paid mom over the last several months. We know it meant a lot to her.
Shirley was a woman of true grit. She will be loved and missed by all who knew her. May you finally rest with peace mom – we love you.
