May 1935 – December 2023

Shirley was born in 1935 and grew up on a dairy farm near Edgerton Minn.  She was the oldest of 8 children of Floyd and Jennie (Vander Pol) Wassink.  Her strong work ethic was forged on the farm where she helped in the garden, tended the chickens (which were mean) and helped with milking chores.  She was class valedictorian in high school and active in band, choir, student council, and drama.  She blazed a trail for her siblings by going to college – first Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, then Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.  She had a 25-year career as an elementary school teacher, serving schools in Bloomington, Minn., Manitowoc, Wisc., Roseville, Minn., and Redwood Falls, Minn., teaching hundreds of children to read along the way.  A lifelong learner, Shirley completed her Master’s Degree in Education after turning 50 years old.  In addition to teaching children, always her highest priority, Shirley worked in staff development while in Redwood Falls, helping other teachers hone their craft.

Shirley met her husband Loren Espeland when they were both singing in the choir at Augustana College.  They were married in June 1960, in Valders, Wisc., where Loren was serving his seminary internship. Shirley was an active partner in the parishes that Loren served, singing in the choir, leading youth, confirmation, and Children’s Choirs, leading Bible studies and as a Bethel Series instructor.  Her steadfast faith was always a central part of her life including daily devotions and reading Christian Century, Word and World, and theological publications.  

After retirement, Shirley and Loren moved to St. Paul and Shirley was immediately active at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church and in her residential community at Luther Place Condominiums.  She often belonged to multiple Bible study circles – even starting a new circle with women new to the community in her 80s.  Her strong prayer life was a blessing for many friends and family going through a rough time.  Through her work as snack coordinator and kid wrangler for the SAPLC Choir School and her active involvement with intergenerational Prayer Partners, she expanded the group of children who knew her as “Grandma Shirley” well beyond her own family. 

Beyond her church community, Shirley was also active in several book groups and exercise classes, was a frequent correspondent with all of her elected officials and supported many environmental and social justice organizations.  She never missed “PBS News Hour” or her afternoon chats with her friend Joan.  For Shirley, there was always a task to be done, and even in her last days when she was weakened by illness, her common refrain was “What should we do next?”  

Shirley will be lovingly remembered by all those whose lives she touched, especially her children and grandchildren Mari and Ken, Karsten and Mats, Leif and Ann, Joseph, Paul and Lars, her brothers and sisters Von, Lloyd and Virginia, Wayne, Roxie, Rachel, and Curt and Ronna, and 18 nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.