May 17, 1932 – May 29, 2025
Shirley Bahlmann, 93, of Sumner, died Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Sumner with Rev. George Volkert officiating. Interment will follow at Union Mound Cemetery in Sumner. Visitation will precede services at the funeral home on Wednesday starting at 1:00 PM.
Shirley Ann, daughter of Orville and Nellie (Beltz) Gray was born May 17, 1932, in Oelwein. She received her education in the Oelwein Schools and graduated from Oelwein High School. Shirley married Jerry Bird and to this union a daughter was born, Lynne. The family lived in Connecticut while Jerry was serving in the military. The couple later divorced. Shirley returned to northeast Iowa and called Sumner her home. Shirley was united in marriage with Ward Farnum on August 25, 1962. Shirley worked at local hardware stores in Sumner for many years and in addition was a residential housekeeper. Ward died on February 2, 1984. On July 24, 1987, she married Robert Bahlmann. Shirley was an avid gardener, enjoyed coloring books and was a talented pianist.
Shirley is survived by her grandson, Jason (Aryn) Heinzeroth of Hayward, Minnesota; three great-grandchildren, Alicyn, Jak, and Eli; and Robert’s daughters, Glenna (Keith) Kohlmeyer of Muscatine, Rhonna (Tom) Bergmann of Waverly, Rheta Block of Sumner, Jacque (David) Slick of Sumner, and Lisa (David) Meyer of Denver.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Jerry Bird, Ward Farnum, and Robert Bahlmann; daughter, Lynne (Berlyn) McGonigal; and Rheta’s husband, Dennis Block.
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