Shirley Jean (Peterson) Bokelmann, 69, of Seward, Nebraska, peacefully entered heaven, surrounded by her loving family, on February 2nd, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 510 S 33rd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday, February 9, at 10:00 AM, with Rev. Joel Dietrich officiating.  Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Columbus, Nebraska, at 2:30 PM, on Friday.  Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus and continue on Friday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church in Lincoln.  There will be a family prayer service on Friday at 9:45 AM at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Memorials are suggested as those of the family or donor's choice.  A lunch will be served immediately following the service at the church in Lincoln.

Shirley ("Sam") was born April 9th, 1954, in Sterling, Colorado, to Orin and Margaret (Whited) Peterson. She graduated from Schuyler High School in 1972. Shirley attended Columbus Beauty College after high school and eventually opened her own salon. She met Eugene ("Sonny") Bokelmann in February of 1977 and they were married on June 17th, 1978, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus. They welcomed their first child, Joseph, on September 23rd, 1979. They welcomed their daughter, Stephanie, on January 3rd, 1982. The family moved to DeSoto, Texas in 1985. In 1989, they returned home to Nebraska and settled in Lincoln. She began her career with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in October 1989, where she held various positions before her retirement in September 2023.

Shirley very much enjoyed gardening and attending to her yard and home with Sonny. She enjoyed fishing with Joe, attending garage sales and Junk Jaunt with Stephanie, and attending sporting events for her grandsons, Ryan and Jake.

Shirley is survived by:
Husband Sonny Bokelmann of Seward, NE; Son Joe (Heidi) Bokelmann of Lincoln, NE; Daughter Stephanie Bokelmann of Lincoln, NE; Grandsons Ryan and Jake Bokelmann of Lincoln, NE; Sisters Amy Kment of Schuyler, NE and Charlotte (Mike) Volnek of Seward, NE; multiple nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by:
Parents Orin and Margaret Peterson; Brothers Robert and Darrel Peterson; Brothers-in-law Larry Buehler and Arnold Kment.