Shirley Clausen

Shirley Clausen

1936-2026

Shirley Faye Clausen, 90, of Pender, NE, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Heritage of Emerson Nursing Home in Emerson, NE. The visitation was held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender. The funeral was on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; Pastor Karen McNeill-Utecht officiated. Burial was in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements were under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender.

Shirley was born on May 9, 1936, the youngest of eight children, to Harrison and Sarah Belle (Merry) Stimson, near Emerson, NE. On May 10, 1953, she was united in marriage to Jerry P. Clausen at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Emerson, NE. To this union, four daughters were born: Glenda, Becky, Carol, and Jill. Over the years, Shirley worked for State Farm Insurance and the Bank Card Center, while helping Jerry on the farm. She took adult education classes for accounting and cake decorating. For many years, she specialized in baking and decorating wedding, graduation, and birthday cakes for many in the community. She put her talent, heart, and pride into every cake. She enjoyed cooking, canning, working in her garden, and sewing. She was a member of WELCA, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aide, and volunteered with 4-H.

Shirley is survived by her daughters and their families, Glenda (Jim) Mueller of Thurston, NE and family: Stacey Mueller of Omaha, NE, Joel (Megan) Mueller of Elkhorn, NE and children Makenzie, Kayden and Jace; daughter, Becky (Louis) Mostek of Pender, NE and family: Cara (Chad) Rebbe of Hooper, NE, and children Logan, Wyatt, Isaac, and Brealla; Amy (Brian) Naber of Lincoln, NE, and daughter, Jayma; Paula (Tony) Nelson of Minden, NE, and children, Shelby, Casey, and Karly; daughter Carol Hinrich (Michael Goracke) of Lexington, NE and family, Ryan Hinrich of Dumas, TX, and daughter Courtney Hinrich, Bethany (John) Gutschow of Moyock, NC, and children, Jaxon and Elizabeth; daughter, Jill (Ken) Nesladek of West Point, NE, and family, Dustin (Erika) Nesladek, and children Bennett, Lyndon, and Asher, Heather (Justin) Bang, and their children, Harper Faye and Myles. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sally Stimson, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jerry; son-in-law, Randy Hinrich; grandsons, Brett Hinrich and Jeremy Nesladek; siblings, Julia Stimson, Ted Stimson, Wilma Ustick, Marvin Stimson, Robert Stimson, Phyllis Krahmer, and Donna Gilster.