"Ed, Carey and Shelly, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, she meant a lot to me when i was in elementary school in Minnesota city. She was like a second mom at school, and i thank you for sharing her with me and many other students whose lives she touched! Thank you! Godspeed Shirley! "
In loving memory of
Shirley Mohan
February 23, 1939 - February 14, 2019
Shirley Mae Mohan (2/23/1939 - 2/14/2019)
Shirley was born on February 23, 1939, in Madelia, MN, to Leonard and Marjorie Carey. At age 9, she was adopted by Everett and Caroline Akins, of Utica, MN. Shirley graduated from Winona High School in 1957. Shirley married Edward Doyle Mohan on October 4th, 1958, at St. John's Church in Winona. They had three children: Edward, Carey, and Michele, they divorced in 1978. Shirley later married Larry Brostrom, they divorced in 2017.
Shirley's first jobs were working at Marigold Dairy and at Ruth's Restaurant in Winona. Shirley began a long career working for Winona School District 861 first as a secretary in Minnesota City, Goodview, Junior High then finishing at the Winona Area Vocational School. She organized the secretaries as a local of the Teamsters Local 320 that represents public and law enforcement employees in the state of Minnesota, from 1989 to 2001 she was the Local 320 Union Steward in Winona. She then served as business agent for Teamsters Local 320 until she was elected President from November 4, 1996, until 2001. She retired from Teamsters Local 320 and represented the Local as Pay Equity Consultant from 2002 until 2014.
Shirley's favorite pastimes were traveling throughout the US and Europe, and if there was a dance floor nearby you could always find her there. Shirley's greatest joys were being with her family and celebrating her Irish heritage with them.
Shirley took pleasure in spending time with her class mates from Winona Senior High class of 1957.
Shirley moved to Albuquerque in May of 2018 to enjoy retirement at the Affinity Senior community, in the short time she lived there she made many dear friends, often around the fire pit or during social hour.
Shirley was diagnosed with ALS in late December 2018, and spent her last days with her daughter Michele at her side.
Shirley is survived by her favorite son, Edward and wife Monica of Winona, MN, favorite oldest daughter Carey Mohan of Minneapolis, MN, and favorite youngest daughter Michele Rose and favorite son-in-law Davey Barela of Albuquerque, NM, grandsons Ethan Mohan and Ryan Carlson, granddaughters Emmalee and Madeline Mohan, great-granddaughter Alayna Sky Setala-Carlson, sister Betsy Kozial of Kannapolis NC, and brothers Walter and Stanley Van Guilder, and her beloved dog Precious, brothers-in-law Darryl Mohan and Bill Mohan, sister-in-law Sharon Mohan, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
She is preceded in death by her birth parents and adoptive parents, her sister Barbara Hill and her brothers Bruce Mathison and Gary Van Guilder, first husband Ed Mohan, sister-in-law Ellen Karpas, brothers-in-law Wayne, Jim, Mike, Eugene and Ron Mohan .
Services for Shirley will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, March 17, 2019 (St. Patrick's Day) at Hoff Funeral Home in Goodview, MN with visitation from 12 p.m., until the time of the service. A reception will follow.
Tributes
"Your mom was a sassy beautiful and goof friend. She will be missed by everyone who touched her life God speed dear friend."
"She was wonderful !!! and thankful for ALL my memories ! Thank all of you for kind words Carey"
"To Ed, Carey and Shelly: I have so many memories of your Mom joining us at my parents home in South Mpls. She was working downtown somewhere and came on the weekends to see your Dad, who lived with us awhile. She was always so much fun, a great listener and seemed like a big sister to me. I have a memory of her riding on my dad's homemade pontoon boat across Rainy Lake. We were all visiting the Mohan cabin there in about 1958. We had no business in that small boat on such a big lake and she had a particularly rough crossing but was a good sport about it. I also have fond memories of her hospitality to the McDonald clan while you lived in Minn. City. She loved family and we all felt it. I Will miss her. Cousin, Karen McDonald Schiller "
"Shirley came to Albuquerque and was such a bright light....she was afraid of nothing and if a car was heading somewhere, she wanted to be in it and participate! We took her to the mountains and went ziplining last fall....Shirley and 4 other women in the 60's-80's ziplining across a lake. Shirley loved it and screamed the whole way across the lake!!! She put us all to shame! We will miss her bright spirit, her smile and laughter, her love of life! Prayers to her family and thanks for sharing her with us! Randy and Eileen Sever"
"So my fondest memory of your mother was she was a mother too many.. she had a really big heart. I remember coming over to your house and there was always a bunch of kids hanging out their neighborhood kids her own kids foster children..we were always welcome there. She was the cool mom that talked with us like we were regular human beings instead of just kids that didn't know anyting.. I used to love those days I never used to say a whole lot but I used to sit and observe.. so sorry for your loss.."
"I have so many memories of Shirley. We worked side by side at Local 320, making it through good times and bad times together. Sometimes we would tag team, trying to do the good cop/bad cop routine, but we discovered we both enjoyed the bad cop the most so it usually turned out to be bad cop and worse cop. She was one of the best friends I've ever had. I'm so sorry I will be out of town for the memorial but Shirley will always be on my mind. I love you my friend. Ed, Carey, and Michelle, I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope in time your memories of your wonderful mother will comfort you."
"We will both miss this beautiful grand lady. Shirley was a very loyal and precious friend who loved her family and friends immensely. RIP sweet lady! Sending warm thoughts and prayers to her family. Betsy and Fritz Grewe"