Shirley M. Urwiller

Crete — Shirley M. Urwiller, 89, of Crete, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Our mother has entered heaven but also remains in our hearts and will continue to inspire us to be the best we can be.  

Shirley Urwiller, born Shirley Gudgel, was born on a small farm Nov. 25th, 1935, to Clarence and Blanche Gudgel near rural Poole. The family led a simple life with little money, but lots of love. She attended Poole School (and later Ravenna Middle and High School). Our mom was used to doing chores and wearing flour sack dresses.

Her parents managed to pay for a piano teacher and to save enough to get Shirley a horse in her youth and she began to enjoy some barrel racing. This began her lifelong love of horses. Though she would never again have a horse in adulthood, she admired them every time she experienced them. Over the years she acquired over 100 painted ponies as well as several horse themed items and photographs.

On June 5th, 1955, she married her high school sweetheart DeWayne Urwiller at the Methodist church in Ravenna. They moved first to Lincoln and then to Ralston when on June 17th, 1958, their son Mark Urwiller was born. On Oct. 12th, 1960, DeEnna Urwiller was born.  

Before her kids were born, Shirley taught kindergarten for a year. She became a “stay at home” mother during most of her children's early years. She and her husband taught wonderful morals and respect for others through discipline and lots of love. 

Her family remained in Ralston until 1970 when DeWayne, a manager for Hested's/Newberry's dime stores, was transferred to Greeley, CO for a year and then to Beverly Hills, CA in 1971. The family lived in Reseda - in the San Fernando Valley.  

Both Shirley and DeWayne played trombone in the band in high school. Their children carried on the legacy with Mark playing trombone and DeEnna playing saxophone.

In 1981 the family moved to Cozad where they purchased a small variety store. Shirley helped with this business and was a secretary at a packing plant near Darr. In 1987, Shirley pursued another dream of becoming a nurse. She became an LPN-C and worked as a floor/surgical nurse at Cozad and Lexington hospitals. 

In 2008, Shirley and her husband began spending their winters in Raymondville, Texas as “snowbirds.” About four years later they would move there full time until 2018 when DeWayne passed.  

From that time on, Shirley and her daughter lived together since they both had health issues. They moved from Raymondville, Texas in 2020, to O'Neill. Shirley occasionally played the piano and organ at the Methodist Church. Her declining health kept her from going to services, but she listened on the radio.

In late 2024, her grandson and his family invited Shirley and DeEnna to live with them in rural Crete. He finished the basement of his home especially for them. Her children promised Shirley they would keep her from going to a nursing home if possible. They managed to honor that promise. 

Shirley is survived by her two children Mark Urwiller of O'Neill and DeEnna Urwiller of rural Crete; four grandchildren James (Carissa) Urwiller of Ft. Calhoun, Zachary (Katie) Urwiller of Blair, Tristan (Melonie) Lawson and Brianna Lawson, all of rural Crete; and seven great-grandchildren Landyn, Hayden, Noah, Gabrial, Isabella “Izzy” and Scarlette.