Shirley D. Ehlinger, age 81, of Burleson, Texas and formerly of Dubuque, passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Huguley Hospital in Fort Worth.  To celebrate Shirley’s life, family and friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.  At 11:30 a.m., there will be a time for sharing memories, followed by burial at Dubuque Memorial Gardens and a luncheon at the Eagle’s Club in Maquoketa from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Shirley was born on February 6, 1944, in Bremerton, Washington, the daughter of George P. and Katherine A. (Heribach) Rohwein.

Shirley married Kenneth Ehlinger on May 11, 1963, in Bremerton, Washington.  They had 3 wonderful children together.  She worked as a CNA for 25 years.  Shirley worked at Mt. Carmel, Maquoketa Care, the Jackson County Hospital and lastly with Hospice of Maquoketa.  Even after her retirement Shirley continued to volunteer with Hospice.  She and Ken also owned and operated Quarter Deck in Baldwin for 18 years.  In her free time she enjoyed traveling, crocheting, reading and visiting with friends.  Shirley loved her family and cherished spending time with her grandchildren.  She will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish Shirley’s memory include

her children,
LaCinda (Ricky) Carr, Burleson, TX,
Deborah (Mark) Uthe, Manchester, IA
and Kevin Ehlinger, Maquoketa, IA;

14 grandchildren,
Shawna (Jeff) Busker, Kristen (Nick) Carr, Brandon (Jonathan) Mills, Chad (Heather) Mills, Nathan (Cheryl) Carr, Ashley (Tailor) Mills, Jenna Carr, Jared (Deb) Carr, Dakota (Jimmy) Potter, Jennifer Uthe, Skye (Al) Uthe, Nickolas Uthe, Kaitlyn Uthe and Bryce Ehlinger;

29 great-grandchildren;

her siblings,
Mary Smith, Bremerton, WA
and Ray (Darleen) Rohwein, Silverdale, WA;

and a brother-in-law,
Mike Johnston, Wasilla, AK.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth Ehlinger; her siblings, Christina (Chuck) Bojarski, Ted (Sandra) Rohwein, Charles Rohwein, Dorothy (Forrest) Gross and Rosemarie Johnston; and a brother-in-law, Tom Smith.

Cards and memorials in Shirley’s memory may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Shirley Ehlinger Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com