1924
Shirley
2012
Shirley M. Dunning
October 27, 1924 — August 20, 2012
Shirley Dunning, 87, of St. Paul died Monday, August 20, 2012 at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.
A celebration of life will be held 1:30 p.m., Friday at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul. The Reverend Randy Dilts and Father Charles Peek will officiate. Inurnment will be held in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.
Memorials are suggested to St. Paul Fire Department and EMT's, St. Paul Library, United Methodist Church Memorial Committee to be used for music, or the Howard County Medical Center.
Shirley was born October 27, 1924 to Edward and Irene (McJunkin) Brier in DeWitt, Nebraska.
She was baptized in St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in DeWitt, Nebraska.
She received her education and graduated from DeWitt High School in 1942. Then she attended UNL in 1942-1944 and earned an Associated Elementary Education Teaching Degree with a minor in music.
Shirley taught second grade from 1944-1946 in Broken Bow.
She met Duane Dunning, the love of her life. They were united in marriage in St. Augustine's Church in DeWitt, Nebraska on May 25, 1946. To this union two daughters were born, Linda and Susan.
The couple lived in Lincoln for 3 years while Duane received his Bachelor Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture.
They then moved to St. Paul in July 1949.
She was a charter member of MNO (Mothers Night Out) Extension Club, a member of the United Methodist Church in St. Paul as well as the Church Choir Director for 3 years. She was the Brownie Girl Scout Music Leader for several years. Shirley drove St. Paul School Bus for 10 years from 1964-1974.
Shirley also owned and operated a Ceramic & Porcelain Doll Shop for 23 years from 1975-1998.
Her favorite hobbies included reading, sewing, knitting, music and playing Bridge. She also enjoyed spending her time with family.
Shirley will be remembered by her great sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. She was a very nurturing mother and lived everyday to care for and love her family, making so much of their home-life special. Some of the many memories of Shirley consisted of that she always decorated their home for holidays, enjoyed planning parties and family get-togethers, taking her girls shopping in Grand Island and the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies permeating throughout the house.
Survivors include two daughters & a son-in-law, Linda & Robert Zuehlsdorf of York and Susan Bedford of Hazard, NE; three grandchildren & their spouses, Piper & Aaron Hollman, Kelli Meritt, and Nick Bedford; one great grandson, William Meritt; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Neal & Raquel Dunning.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Duane Dunning, an infant grandson, Andrew Edward Zuehlsdorf and a son-in-law, William (Hank) Bedford.
A celebration of life will be held 1:30 p.m., Friday at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul. The Reverend Randy Dilts and Father Charles Peek will officiate. Inurnment will be held in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.
Memorials are suggested to St. Paul Fire Department and EMT's, St. Paul Library, United Methodist Church Memorial Committee to be used for music, or the Howard County Medical Center.
Shirley was born October 27, 1924 to Edward and Irene (McJunkin) Brier in DeWitt, Nebraska.
She was baptized in St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in DeWitt, Nebraska.
She received her education and graduated from DeWitt High School in 1942. Then she attended UNL in 1942-1944 and earned an Associated Elementary Education Teaching Degree with a minor in music.
Shirley taught second grade from 1944-1946 in Broken Bow.
She met Duane Dunning, the love of her life. They were united in marriage in St. Augustine's Church in DeWitt, Nebraska on May 25, 1946. To this union two daughters were born, Linda and Susan.
The couple lived in Lincoln for 3 years while Duane received his Bachelor Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture.
They then moved to St. Paul in July 1949.
She was a charter member of MNO (Mothers Night Out) Extension Club, a member of the United Methodist Church in St. Paul as well as the Church Choir Director for 3 years. She was the Brownie Girl Scout Music Leader for several years. Shirley drove St. Paul School Bus for 10 years from 1964-1974.
Shirley also owned and operated a Ceramic & Porcelain Doll Shop for 23 years from 1975-1998.
Her favorite hobbies included reading, sewing, knitting, music and playing Bridge. She also enjoyed spending her time with family.
Shirley will be remembered by her great sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. She was a very nurturing mother and lived everyday to care for and love her family, making so much of their home-life special. Some of the many memories of Shirley consisted of that she always decorated their home for holidays, enjoyed planning parties and family get-togethers, taking her girls shopping in Grand Island and the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies permeating throughout the house.
Survivors include two daughters & a son-in-law, Linda & Robert Zuehlsdorf of York and Susan Bedford of Hazard, NE; three grandchildren & their spouses, Piper & Aaron Hollman, Kelli Meritt, and Nick Bedford; one great grandson, William Meritt; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Neal & Raquel Dunning.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Duane Dunning, an infant grandson, Andrew Edward Zuehlsdorf and a son-in-law, William (Hank) Bedford.
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