Shirley June Willhoft
Shirley June Acker Willhoft was born on June 19, 1936 to Reynald Bruce Acker and Gretta Clevenger Acker in Belgrade, Nebraska. After 14 months, sister Sandra joined the family. They moved to Fullerton where Shirley attended kindergarten.
The family moved to Omaha where her father worked at the Martin Bomb Plant. In 1946, the Ackers moved to Central City.
Shirley attended grade school and high school graduating from Central City High School in 1954. While in school, she dated Jerry D. Willhoft and after two years at Kearney State Teacher’s College and a year teaching at Paxton they married in the Central City Baptist Church in 1957. Jay Douglas was born in 1958 and Joel Alan in 1959.
The family moved to Imperial where Jerry went to work with the Soil Conservation Service. In 1960, John Bruce was born and in 1962, James Reynold was born. The family lived there for 17 years and left many friends behind when they moved to Lincoln so Jerry could attend the University of Nebraska.
He got a degree in Agriculture and Shirley went to South East College to get commercial skills. She substituted in both the Imperial and Lincoln Schools for 12 years. While in Lincoln, she worked at Miller and Paine in the East Office. All four sons worked and attended the University of Nebraska.
After five years, Jerry and Shirley moved back to Central City. Jerry filled a term in the Nebraska Legislature. Driving cars for “Snow Birds” for 15 years, several cruises and a trip to Ockelbo, Sweden were their highlights. The greatest sorrow in her life was the death of her third son John Bruce in 1984.
Shirley’s family, extended family and church were very important to her. She loved her home and enjoyed having people there.
All different places of church for over 50 years helped her learn about God’s love. PEO, Round Table and Bridge (and all games) were her interests.
Shirley departed this life on May 11, 2019 at Merrick Medical Center in Central City.
Funeral services were Wednesday, May 15, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Tom Lucas officiating.
Visitation was May 15, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Church.
Burial will be in the Central City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family and condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Those left to mourn her are husband Jerry of Central City; sons Jay (Mary) Willhoft of Grand Island, Joel (Marva) Willhoft of Hays, Kansas and James Willholft of Omaha; seven grandchildren: Sasha, Tanner, Molly, Jared Willhoft, Jeff (Becky) Hulinsky, Dave (Gwen) Hulinsky, Sara (Chris) Seim; four great-grandchildren: Bethany, Matthew, Jackson and Will; sister Sandra (John Ellefson of Central City; sister-in-law Ramona (Judd) Bock of Honey Creek, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son John.