Shirley Nygaard

STOUGHTON - Shirley Ann Nygaard, age 89, passed away at Swifthaven Community in Edgerton on Fri July 6, 2018 after a courageous battle with cancer. Shirley was born April 13, 1929 in Stoughton to the late Percy and Bertha (Sperloen) Erdahl.
She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Stoughton. She is a graduate of Stoughton High School, class of 1947, and also a graduate of Lutheran Deaconess Hospital Nursing School in Chicago in 1951. She was a labor and delivery nurse in Hollywood at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, and a charge nurse for the American Red Cross Blood Mobile in Dane County. Shirley married Allen Owen Nygaard on Oct 20, 1956 at Christ Lutheran Church. She was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church; she served as a past president of the American Lutheran Church Women, and belonged to the Elizabeth Circle. She was a member of the Stoughton Lioness and P.EO. Shirley enjoyed playing bridge, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage; she hosted many Syttende Mai parties, traveled to Norway, and opened her home to her family from Norway. Shirley and Al were the Syttende Mai King and Queen in 1987.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Lisa (William) Keenan, son Chris Nygaard (Sena Park) and her son Samuel; grandchild Anja Nygaard; Anja's mother Julie Nygaard; sister Barbara (Norval) Morgan; sister-in-law Janet Erdahl; nephews Jeffrey (Monica) Morgan, Kevin (Helen) Morgan, Michael (Ann) Morgan; great nieces and nephews Gillian Striker, Kelcie Morgan, Jacinda Morgan, Natalie Morgan, Wesley Morgan, Danielle Morgan.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Al, brother Leander Erdahl, grandchildren Nicholas and Jaqueline Gyland Nygaard, and great nephew Weston Morgan.
Our gratitude goes to the Swifthaven Community and Heartland Hospice, and Shirley's caring doctors: Teresa Kulie MD, Christine Cox MD, and Shannon O'Mahar MD.
A funeral will be held at 11:00 AM on Tue July 10, 2018 at CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 700 County Hwy B, Stoughton with Pastor Paula Geister-Jones presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of the service on Tue at the church. A luncheon will follow the service at the church on Tue.
Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, or Heartland Hospice.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
206 W Prospect St. Stoughton
608-873-9244