ELGIN — Shirley L. Nissen, Elgin, 94, died peacefully Oct. 17, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Memory Care Center, Albion. There will be a Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m., Oct. 29, at the Elgin Christian Community Church, Elgin. Private family burial will be at West Cedar Valley Cemetery, Elgin. Levander Funeral Home of Elgin is in charge of the arrangements. Shirley LaRose Nissen was born Feb. 4, 1931, on a farm southwest of Elgin, to Frieda and Ferdinand (Rookie) Nissen. Around age 10, Shirley’s cousin, Carl Nissen, came to live with her family. They became best friends and remained close until Carl’s passing during the Korean War in 1952. Shirley considered Carl her brother through her final days.

Shirley had a lifelong passion for public education. She graduated in 1947 from Elgin High School and afterward became a teacher. She first taught at country schools, including Belltower School, which was located southwest of Elgin. At the same time, her sister, Maxine, was teaching at a school two miles to the west. On occasion, they and their students would meet in the middle to play a game of softball. Shirley would go on to receive a master’s of education from Wayne State College and teach at Neligh, Belgrade, Loretto, Columbus and Albion, before becoming elementary school principal at Randolph, and principal at Petersburg. While at Petersburg, Shirley started the shop program for kids to learn vocational skills.

Shirley gave up educating children in the late 1970s to move back to Elgin and care for her ailing mother. In her later years, Shirley spent her time investing in her community, buying and rehabilitating properties and serving as Antelope County Commissioner, Elgin City Council, and West Cedar Valley Cemetery Board for many years. Shirley spent many hours working at the Elgin City Landfill, caring for the lawn and grounds of Trinity Lutheran Church, and attending area estate sales. She was known for being blunt, stubborn and opinionated, but generous and caring toward her family and community. She received an Aksarben Good Neighbor Award for her services to the community of Elgin.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Ferdinand and Frieda Nissen; sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Ernest Uhrenholdt; cousin/ adopted brother, Carl Nissen; aunts, Bessie (Bud) Hawks, Lillie (Fred) Iburg, and Elsie (Bert) Josten; uncles, Bill (Mary) Nissen, Alfred (Anna) Nissen, and Matt Nissen; nephew, Dale Uhrenholdt; great-great-nephew, Landon Somer; and several cousins.

Shirley is survived by nephews, Richard (Donna) Uhrenholdt and David (Sylvera) Holdt; great-nephews, Heath Uhrenholdt, Adam (Susie) Holdt, and Alex (William) Holdt; and great-nieces, Carissa (Jeremy) Thelander, Rachel Uhrenholdt (Nelson Winkel), Sarah (Bryce) Somer, and Dana (Mario) Pesendorfer; first cousin, Darlene (Louis) Heithoff, as well as four great-great-nephews, and four great-great-nieces.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, memorials are suggested to the Elgin Community Center.