She was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Stromsburg on February 24, 1957 and was confirmed at Salem on May 16, 1971. Shirleen graduated from Stromsburg High School with the Class of 1975, then earned a business degree from Lincoln School of Commerce. After graduation, Shirleen accepted a position on the accounting staff at Centel Corporation in Lincoln, NE where she met her future husband, Robin L. Hoffman. They were married on April 26, 1980 at Salem Lutheran Church in Stromsburg.
Shirleen’s life was deeply enriched by her two loving sons, Brent and Eric, who will always remember her for her patience and kindness. She was an avid supporter of their academic and athletic activities, never missing their baseball, soccer, and basketball games and, in later years, rooting for her sons’ swimming competitions, bowling, and coaching. Loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Shirleen was entirely devoted to her family. Nothing could lighten up her face more than a visit from her two beautiful grandchildren.
Shirleen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln where she previously served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher.
She was a spirited and lifelong fan of Husker football and a more recent fan of Husker volleyball.
Survivors include her husband Robin of Lincoln; sons Brent of Lincoln, and Eric and wife Lacey of Lincoln; grandchildren Blake and Jessa Hoffman of Lincoln; siblings Warren Carlson of Stromsburg, Karleen Strayer of Wilmington, DE and Rod Carlson of Harlan, IA; sister-in-law Brenda Robinson of North Bend, NE; brothers-in-law John Rosman, Tom Strayer, and Jim Robinson; several nieces and nephews as well as a host of other relatives. Shirleen was preceded in death by her parents, Edsel and Delores Carlson; father and mother in law, Orval and Irene Hoffman; sister in law, Sandra Kay Hoffman; and sister and brother in law, Twila and Wilson Scott.
Memorials are suggested to the Special Olympics Nebraska and Grace Lutheran Church Foundation.
Services will be at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington Street, Lincoln, on February 3, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Emily Johnson officiating. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at 1:00 P.M. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Waverly, NE.