Shirley Ann Freeman

Shirley A. Freeman ‘Bunny’, age 93, of River Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2025, at The Sycamore of River Falls. Shirley was born on November 9, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of John ‘Jack’ Timm and Fern Stegeman. She attended elementary school in Minneapolis before attending and graduating from Columbia Heights High School.

As a young woman, she met her future husband, Jerry Freeman. The two were united in marriage on December 15, 1951, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minnesota. They were blessed with three children: Steve, Sheryl and Jill. They raised their family in New Brighton for many years. Early in their marriage, Shirley worked as a waitress at the Gingham and later at Maple Lanes cafe in Fridley. As her children grew, she worked for many years at Montgomery Ward, where she was involved in inventory and merchandising. Shirley enjoyed the simple things in life. Though she was quiet and caring, nothing gave her more joy than being surrounded by those she loved. In earlier years, she looked forward to planning and cooking for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, when she entertained her siblings and their families with a traditional abundant feast, along with much related laughter and chaos. She loved her family gatherings and was always eager to show off her own children, whom she was immensely proud of. Shirley also truly loved attending and cheering on her grandkids at their many soccer, hockey and softball games over the years. On quieter days, she found tranquility in reading books or taking walks to enjoy the fresh air. She also loved searching for the perfect rocks on her walks when visiting the shore. Shirley was also a passionate supporter of the University of Wisconsin River Falls Falcons Hockey Team, coached by her son. She would proudly dress in their attire and eagerly wait to be picked up at the door to cheer them on. In recent years, she kept busy with puzzles and continued reading anything she could get her hands on. Shirley was one of the first residents of The Sycamore of River Falls, where she was warmly welcomed and quickly made new friendships.

Shirley’s life will be lovingly remembered by her children: Steve (Deb) Freeman of River Falls, Sheryl Freeman of Arizona, and Jill (Scott House) Langevin of Florida; her grandchildren: Nick, Carli and Lily; and her great-grandchild, Kendall. She is also survived by her siblings: Roberta ‘Tip’ Cardenas, Bob (Rena) Timm, Sandy ‘Tiny’ (Al) Hanson, and Gary (Joyce) Timm, as well as their children and families. Shirley is reunited in eternity with those who passed before her, including her husband Jerry, son-in-law Dan Huston, brother-in-law Rudy Cardenas, and her parents John and Fern Timm.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Interim Hospice care team for their wonderful support and kindness in caring for Shirley during her final weeks. Also, a heartfelt thanks to Deb Freeman for her thoughtful caregiving and visits with Shirley.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date this summer. Please visit this website for updates, as we will keep you informed once the details are finalized. Memorials are preferred at the discretion of the family and may be directed to the funeral home.

Cremation and memorial services have been entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 225 South Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022. For more information, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-425-5644.