Shirley Nickel

Shirley Ann Nickel, age 89, of River Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2022, at Kinnic Health and Rehab, in River Falls, Wisconsin, with her family by her side.

Shirley was born January 22, 1933, to Harriett Swanson in Red Wing, Minnesota.  Shirley married the love of her life, LeRoy Nickel, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Clayfield, Wisconsin on July 7, 1955.

Shirley and LeRoy met while Shirley was working at the Red Wing Pottery Company, where she was a freehand painter, a job she genuinely loved. She would work there until her and LeRoy began their family.  They moved to their farm in Ellsworth in 1955 and it was at home where she truly shined.  Shirley could be found baking, cooking and canning for her family.  She was famous for her cinnamon rolls, apple pies and apple bars.  She enjoyed canning most everything LeRoy could grow in the garden along with delicious fruits from their trees and crates of peaches LeRoy would bring home from town.  Shirley had quite the green thumb when it came to growing her beloved African violets.  After her children were grown, she joined LeRoy and went back to work at Red Wing Shoe.

Shirley’s love for creating things continued through her whole life.  She took up cross stitching, crocheting, and knitting. She treasured all of her hobbies with needle work.  She was exceptionally talented at sketching and had many sketch pads full of her drawings. Shirley was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and adored Sundays with her family cheering them on.

Shirley will be missed by her 5 children: Renee Fogerty, Lynette (Mike) Pfremmer, Mike (Peggy) Nickel,

Beth (Paul) Lund and Wayne Nickel; grandchildren: Dan (Kristen), Erin (Rick), Bryan (Tiffany), Todd, Spencer, Simone (Stephen), Andy and Matt; great-grandchildren: Alyssa (Kyle), Ryan, Elouise and Ethan; sister-in-law: Marlene Nickel and cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her husband: LeRoy; mother: Harriett Swanson; stepfather: George Swanson; along with her brothers and sisters-in-law: Marcele (Kenneth) Cook, Cleone (Sidney) Clobes, Frank Nickel and Della (John) Larson.

Mass of Christian burial was held November 17, 2022, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in River Falls, Wisconsin. Interment immediately followed mass at St. Francis Cemetery in Ellsworth.

Services entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home in River Falls, Wisconsin.