On July 28, 2025, we said goodbye to a wonderful wife, mother and family Matriarch and Heaven now has a beautiful new Angel. Shirley Ann (Pike) Wiese passed quietly in Hospice at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, CO after suffering a broken hip and stroke after surgery.
Shirley was born to Clyde and Ruby (Goins) Pike on her parents' farm near Oketo, KS on April 7, 1938. Shirley was the fourth born to a family of three sisters and four brothers. Shirley attended K-12 at Barneston High School in Barneston, NE and graduated in 1956. While attending high school she was a classmate to her future husband but would not know this for quite some time. After graduating Shirley moved to Topeka, KS to seek employment. Her husband to be had joined the US Air Force. While on leave prior to going overseas in 1957, they reunited and pledged their love to one another. While overseas Jerry proposed marriage and gave Shirley an engagement ring. Upon his return Jerry and Shirley were married in St Joseph Catholic Church in Barneston, NE.
They moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Jerry would be stationed for the next three years. Shirley worked for an insurance company and Jerry served out his military commitment. During their time in San Antonio, they were blessed with two beautiful little girls providing them with great joy. Upon Jerry's discharge from the Air Force in 1961, the family moved to Littleton, CO where Shirley and Jerry became employed by the C.A. Norgren Pneumatics company. In 1964, their third daughter was born bringing more joy to the family.
Prior to going to work, Shirley was a stay at home mom until all three girls were in high school.
Shirley was involved with the girls' school and sports activities and was active in the Littleton First United Methodist Church, supervising the church nursery on Sunday morning, serving on the Missions Committee, and active in Habitat for Humanity. Shirley's greatest joy was working as a teacher's helper at South (Moody) Elementary School helping first grade students with reading and other subjects. After a long career with Norgren, Shirley left the company in 1999, and Jerry retired in 2000. They both enjoyed traveling and, in the Spring of 2000, they drove the Historic Route 66 highway from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA in their motor home. For several years they wintered in South Texas while volunteering at UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) in southern Louisiana, helping to rebuild communities after hurricanes and other local and global disasters. Shirley was a member of Fort Collins First United Methodist Church and volunteered as a greeter, usher, a member of UMW and Church Women United. She volunteered at Larimer County Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity for several years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Joni, her parents, sisters Dorothy and Betty, brothers Ronnie and Melvin, and three brothers-in-law Frank, George, and John. Shirley is survived by her husband Jerry, daughters Jami (Paul), Jeri, sister Sharon, brothers Bob (special friend Jerry) and Mike (Kay), grandchildren Kevin (Carol), Michele (Dave), Andy, Patrick (Meagen) and Skyler (special friend Justin), and great-grandchildren Teagen, Brynlee, and Bohdi, and many nieces and nephews.
A private family inurnment will take place at the church columbarium in the Fall. Donations in memory of Shirley may be sent to First United Methodist Church of Fort Collins, Pathways Hospice of Northern Colorado, and American Stroke Association.