Shirley June Mahlum

Shirley June Mahlum passed away on June 10, 2023, in Mondovi, WI, at the age of 85. She was born on June 22, 1937, to Herman and Delsie (Rohlfs) Gardow, in Eau Claire, WI. Shirley was number 8 of 11 children, so she learned at an early age how to cook and take care of a home.  Shirley attended a one room schoolhouse in the town of Union and graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School in 1955. 

After graduation, Shirley worked at Kresskie's and Zenith stores in Eau Claire.  She lived with three other young ladies, Clarice, Lyla and Majil.  These ladies would become lifelong friends.  In fact, the roommates would meet every year for 64 years, for the "roommate picnic", which was hosted by one of the roommates each year and included their families as well.

Shirley met Ed Mahlum, and on November 10, 1956, they were united in holy matrimony.  After Ed's completion of pharmacy school in Brookings, SD, they moved to Waterloo, IA, and then finally, to Ed's hometown of Mondovi, WI. They had three wonderful children, Craig, Theresa, and Sandy.

Shirley was the quintessential homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and volunteer, roles that she cherished and embraced.  Shirley was an outstanding cook and baker, making almost all family suppers from scratch.  She sewed not only clothes for herself, but also for Theresa and Sandy, including their baton twirling outfits.

In the 70's when the price of canned vegetables was rising, the family planted and grew a garden, from which she not only cooked vegetables for meals, but she also canned, froze, made jelly/jam and pies out of almost every fruit and vegetable she came into contact with. 

Shirley was very active in the Central Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and Mary Circle, holding offices and a key contributor in both organizations.

Shirley was also an active member of the Buffalo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and all of its activities, especially taking a cart around to the Manor residents, offering cards, snacks and treats, and visiting with them. 

In the 70's and 80's, Shirley was also an active member of the Mondovi Music Mothers, a volunteer group which raised funds for Mondovi school bands.  She worked alongside her longtime friend, Janice Mikelson on the yearly Band Calendar.

In her "spare" time, Shirley bowled in a nighttime bowling league and then the Thursday afternoon bowling league, for years.  She also delivered Meals on Wheels for several years and visited with the elderly.

Shirley was a kindhearted lady, who sent cards to anyone she knew who needed a greeting, and stopped by many elderly, sick, or grieving families' homes with jam, jelly or a hot dish. 

Although born into a German family, Shirley embraced Ed's Norwegian heritage and served as a charter member of the Mondovi Sons of Norway.  She and Ed were recently acknowledged for their 30 years of service and membership.  Shirley was an accomplished cook and baker of Norwegian food such as lutefisk, lefse, rommegrot, krumkake, sandbakkels, rosettes and flat bread.  Shirley and Ed are also charter members of the Mondovi Historical Society, serving 43 years.

For 43 years, Ed and Shirley enjoyed an annual trip to Hawaii as a winter getaway, often spending time there with Ed's first cousin, Betty and Virgil Borgwardt.  Ed and Shirley also treated their kids and grandkids with trips to join them at their island paradise.

Shirley leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 66.5 years, Ed; her adoring children, Craig (Julie) Mahlum of Middleton, WI; Theresa (Mark) Evans of Blackduck, MN; and Sandy (Rob) Haidvogel of Libertyville, IL.; her much loved grandchildren, Amy, Jeff and Danny Mahlum; Megan and Aaron (Mary) Goldstein; and Christopher and Katherine Haidvogel; and great-grandchildren, Adeline and Bennett Goldstein. Shirley is also survived by step-grandchildren/great-grandchildren, Brandi, Ben, Ellie and Joey Nesseth; Linnea, Nate, Monroe and River Wayne; and Amanda Evans. 

Shirley is also survived by her brothers, Darrell (Pat) Gardow and Loyde (Evelyn) Gardow; sister, Lillian House; sisters-in-law Clarice Gardow, Mavis Gardow and Katie Mahlum; brothers-in-law Keith (Sandy) Mahlum and Chuck Lacey, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

 Funeral services for Shirley will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Central Lutheran Church in Mondovi with burial to follow at Riverside Lutheran Cemetery.  A visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the Talbot Family Funeral Home, Mondovi Chapel and again at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the hour of the service. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Central Lutheran Church Women or the Mondovi Public Library Building Fund in Shirley's memory. 

We Love you, Mom!