Shirley Ann Lowe was born March 14, 1935, to Walter and Wilma (Tietgen) Petersen in Blair, Nebraska. She passed away peacefully, November 20, 2024, with her children at her side at Franciscan Healthcare in West Point, Nebraska, after a battle with cancer.
Shirley grew up in Blair with her close brother, Bob, and graduated from Blair High School.
She married Dick Lowe on May 8, 1955, in Blair. Dick was a friend of her boyfriend at the time, and he was always with a group of Herman guys going to Blair to check out the Blair girls! Shortly after Dick was in a bad car accident and his friend passed away, she knew right after that Dick was the one she wanted!
They were married for 63 years when Dick passed in July of 2018. They had three children: Vicki, Gordie and Mike. Family was the most important part of their life. They would attend all the ball games, concerts and celebrations of their kids, grandkids and great grandkids.
Shirley loved socializing with such a great host of friends. She was still in a couple of card clubs in Tekamah with her very special long-time friends. She was a part of several different card groups with many special friends here in Oakland. She rarely missed morning coffee with a group of ladies at the café downtown. Shirley’s neighborhood was also very important to her. She cared for each and every neighbor like family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dick; and granddaughter Sydney’s husband Lucas Brunssen.
Shirley is survived by her children: Vicki (Jeff) Nelson of Oakland, Gordie (Janet) Lowe of Morse Bluff, NE, Mike (Angie) Lowe of Arlington, NE; her one and only very special sibling Bob and his wife Colleeta Petersen of Blair, who was like a sister to her; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren; very special nephews: Kent (Carol) Petersen, Greg (Deb) Petersen, nieces: Lori Wilburn and Tami (Jim) Thompson.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Tuesday, November 26, 2024, 10:30 a.m., at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland.
MEMORIAL VISITATION: One hour prior to service at the church.
BURIAL AT A LATER DATE: Herman Cemetery, Herman
MEMORIALS: Oakland Fire and Rescue, Tekamah Fire and Rescue, First Evangelical Lutheran Church