Shirley Lou Stephan

Shirley Lou Stephan, age 88, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin. Shirley was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on October 14, 1935, to Harold and Grace (Lockhart) Boldt. In 1954, she graduated from Reinbeck High School in Reinbeck, Iowa. Shirley married Kenneth Stephan on November 11, 1954, in Waterloo, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with three daughters, Connie, Janice, and Linda. In 1967, they moved to Austin, Minnesota, where Shirley worked as a secretary for KSMQ and was employed with the Austin School District for almost 20 years. She was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Austin and the Mower County Senior Center. Shirley was an avid Minnesota Gopher basketball fan, she always looked forward to her yearly trips to The Barn to watch the Gopher’s play. In her free time, she enjoyed playing cards and listening to country music. Traveling was another love of Shirley’s; she and Kenneth were able to visit all 50 states and several countries, collecting thimbles along the way as mementos of their travels. Among her favorites was her yearly trips to Branson to see Daniel O’Donnell perform. Shirley will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.

Survivors include her daughters, Connie (Richard) Brekke of Rochester, MN, Janice (Orvin) Rowe of Albert Lea, MN, Linda Stephan of Austin, MN; six grandchildren, Matthew (Bridget) Brekke, Amanda Rowe, Katie Brekke, Lindsey Chapek, April Rowe, and Andrew (Mariah) Chapek; ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Grace Boldt; and her husband, Kenneth Stephan in 2021.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Austin. The visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Austin at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the Hormel Institute for cancer research. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.