Celebration of a life well lived, and well loved.

Shirley Ann Wheeler (Swanson) Eberspacher was born to Margaret and Ted Wheeler, in Belle River, MN, October 28, 1931, and passed peacefully January 28, 2025, in Meridian Gardens in Columbus, Nebraska, surrounded by her family.   While growing up in Clarissa, Minnesota, Shirley worked in her parent's many family businesses; a restaurant, car dealership, dance hall, and eventually at the Wheeler stores as a bookkeeper.

Shirley noticed Bob in the 6th grade, and they went together from then on until they married in February of 1951! They lived in Memphis, Tennessee, Columbus, Nebraska, North Platte, Nebraska, Grand Island, Nebraska and Atlantic, Iowa, where they were involved with the Wheeler stores, raising their four children, playing cards with friends and golfing.

Several years after Bob's passing, Shirley met Stan, married, and moved to Seward, Nebraska, where they made a new home together. Lots of golfing, card playing and socializing! They bought an RV, and set out on many adventures, all across the country! They would eventually move to Grand Island, and they also wintered in Sun Lakes, Arizona. They continued to enjoy traveling overseas, and bus tours, too, well into their late 70's and early 80's.

Shirley was always volunteering, with the church, nursing home, school, teaching English at the library. Always very involved with the neighborhood, coffee with the ladies, cards, quilting, golf, bible study. She had a caring and generous spirit, a great sense of humor, love of children, especially her grandchildren! More than anything, Shirley always had a positive attitude!

Shirley is survived by her younger sister Beverly Swanson, two daughters, Connie (Bruce) Jensen, Sarah (Eric) Follstad, and one son, Steven Swanson. Also, 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, and many special nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Robert Swanson, in 1978, her second husband, Stan Eberspacher, in 2023, her son Michael (Stephanie) Swanson in 2021, her brothers Lloyd Wheeler and Jim Wheeler, both in 2010

Shirley was a lifetime member of the Methodist church.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Friday, June 6, at First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Friday, from 10:00 AM until service time, at the church. Interment will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 7 in the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.