Shirley Nelson

Shirley Nelson, age 57, of Savanna, Illinois, died Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at Kindred Hospital, Sycamore, Illinois after a long illness. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, with Pastor Michael Wey of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Springlake Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, January 10, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Shirley was born August 8, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of James and Charlotte (Deveraux) Eppenstein. Growing up she attended school in Chicago. On March 27, 1980, Shirley married Bob Nelson in Chicago, while he was home on leave from the Marine Corp.Shirley worked over twenty years at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Savanna, retiring in 2007. In younger years, she had also worked as an enrollment secretary with American Schools in Chicago. Shirley loved spending quality time with her grandchildren and family. Sled riding was one of her favorite activities with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, watching her soap operas, and camping.Shirley will be dearly missed by her husband, Bob Nelson of Savanna; her daughter, Christine (Brian) Hawes of Davis Junction, Illinois; her son, Shawn (Andraya) Nelson of Savanna; four grandchildren, Legend, Payton, Skylar and Dylan; six sisters, Meta Conkling of Nebraska, Vivian (Ron) Yorkman of California, Doreen (Dan) Kwater of Thomson, Illinois, Charlotte Fisher of Nebraska, Shelley (Victor) Preston of Savanna and Linda McKnight of Texas; three brothers, Tom (Carol) Eppenstein of Indiana, Karl (Cathy) Eppenstein of Savanna and Nick (Diana) Eppenstein of Savanna. Shirley is preceded in death by an infant son, Christopher; two sisters, Roberta Eppenstein and Elizabeth Anderson; a brother, Steven; and both parents.