Jennie L. Shiley

Jennie Lynn (Kirtley) Shiley, age 71 of Omaha, formerly of Lincoln, passed away on May 12th, 2022, at University of Nebraska Medical Center.



Jennie was born on May 7th, 1951, in Lincoln Nebraska to William Howard Kirtley and Ellanora Coletta (Ullsperger) Kirtley. She graduated from St Pious X Catholic High School of Lincoln in 1969. She went on to study medical assisting at Southeastern Nebraska Community College of Lincoln and graduated in 1973. Later she studied Business Administration at Bellevue University of Omaha and graduated in 2001. She worked from 1976 to retirement in 2006 for First National Bank of Omaha as a Corporate Trust Administrator.



Jennie married Robert Eugene Shiley September 21, 1974. They adopted a child (Richard Douglas Shiley) who was born on December 14th, 1978 and received on December 21st, 1978. They later separated and divorced in 1983. She later purchased a house 1993 where she raised her son and her pups until retiring.



Jennie was her parents first and only child. She started life with uphill battles and was born with progressive kidney disease and later developed asthma at age 8. She had two great parents and shared some of the qualities from each. She ended up with her father’s wit and humor and her mother’s unconditional dedication and love. She loved to recount a time her father introduced her as his “ugly daughter” and she followed up with, “yeah I look like my dad.” She also raised her son Rick in a single parent household and worked very hard many times while dealing with crippling health issues to ensure he felt loved and knew right from wrong. She had several passions in life:



Her family – She spent a ton of time working on ancestry and putting together information for future generations. She enjoyed spending time finding her families history and compiling books with those details inside.



Her pups – Buttons, Tiggy, Laurie, Opie, Capone, and Ruby. She loved every one of these pups and was every part a mother to them as to her son. Rick remembers a time when Laurie was getting attacked by another dog and mom went out there and was hitting it despite being sick with kidney failure.



Her crafts – Wreaths and concrete leaves. She loved attending trade show just to talk and get out. She loved making something and using her time being creative.



Lunches with her friends – She loved talking with good friends and if good food was a part of it even better.

COPD struck later in life and made many of these things impossible, however she pushed on as she had so many other times to try to remain independent. This led to many hospitalizations and further deteriorating health. In September of 2021 She moved in with her son, his wife, and her granddaughter. She enjoyed eating as a family and spending time with Nora who called her Mimi. She received news this January that she would have another grandchild and was thrilled that Nora would have a sibling. She passed away with family by her side.



She was more than these words and she will be remembered and treasured by everyone that got the chance to spend time with her.



Preceded in death by her parents. Survived by her son and daughter in law, Richard and Molly Shiley; granddaughter, Ellanora and her future grandson; her extended family and many good friends.



MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Friday, 10:00 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church with interment Friday, 2:00pm in Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.



VISITATION with the family begins Thursday, after 5:00 p.m. at the 72nd Street Chapel with a WAKE service at 7:00 p.m.



In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Kidney Fund.