Obituary for Shirley May Bryhn

Shirley M. Bryhn, 83, of Onalaska peacefully passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at her apartment at Springbrook. Her final days were spent with many family members and friends, she knew she was loved by us all so much. Shirley was born November 12, 1940, in La Crosse to Maynard and Mary (Emerson) Oslie. She was one of eight children. She was baptized & confirmed, continuing her journey with God her entire life. She graduated in 1958 from Melrose High School and then attended WTC in La Crosse.

Shirley married Myron Bryhn on October 27, 1962, at South Beaver Creek Lutheran Church in Ettrick, Wisconsin. They started their journey in Milwaukee, WI, where Shirley worked for the American Heart Association and Myron at American Motors in Kenosha. She was also a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines at Chicago O’Hare airport. In 1963 she became the proud mom of a baby girl Sheila. They moved back to La Crosse in 1965 to be closer to family.

Shirley worked at Norwest Bank in La Crosse from 1967-1977 in several administrative positions. She then worked at Doerflinger’s department store in downtown La Crosse and as an LTE employee for Dr. Kohler at UW-La Crosse. In 1979 she became a full-time employee at UW-L for the ROTC Program in the Military Science department. This was a job she loved and continued until her retirement in 1997.

In 1986, Shirley became a grandmother to Sheila’s only daughter, Ashley. She was beyond excited, she and Sheila, both hoping it was a girl! Ashley was everything to Shirley. They were close and Shirley was a great role model and mentor. After the birth of Ashley’s two daughters in 2020 and 2023, Shirley was coined “Gi-Gi”.

After retirement she stayed busy working at the information desk at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse on weekends. She also volunteered in the gift shop for 10 years. She just really enjoyed helping people. She retired from Gundersen in 2015.

Shirley was a people person and loved to stay busy every day she could. She volunteered at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and (RSVP) Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, and was very involved in the Moose Lodge, becoming the Senior Regent for the La Crosse Chapter #1526 in 2008. This was the top honor of the Women of the Moose; she was so very proud of that accomplishment. She loved riding her scooter and was in a scooter group called the Mild Hogs. Over the years she was the leasing manager at a couple large apartment complexes and kept busy with the rental properties her and Myron owned. She enjoyed sewing and alterations as a side job over the years, making handmade quilts for her great-grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to warm destinations, especially with Sheila & Fritz to their condo in Cape Coral, Florida. She always enjoyed an ice cream cone at McDonald’s and had a regular group of friends who met there weekly.

Her surviving family includes: Daughter Sheila (Fritz) Rasmussen of Brownsville, MN and their children Ashley (Tony) Krocka (great-granddaughters Bryhnly and Zoey) of Milwaukee, Katie (Nate) Poukey (great-grandson Daxton) of La Crosse, Christine Rasmussen of Utah, Kimberly Rasmussen and fiancé Maurice Johnson (great-grandson Micah) of Minneapolis.

She is survived by her siblings: Juanita Haag (Obbie) of Onalaska, Richard (Sherry) Oslie of Melrose, Michael (Kelly) Oslie of Galesville.

She is also survived by sisters-in-law: Marjorie Westlie of Trempealeau, Gen Bryhn of Ettrick, Karen (Jim) Knutson of La Crosse, Marla Onsrud of Trempealeau, Julie (David) Hanssen of La Crosse, and Ruth Oslie of Winona, MN., also brother-in-law Steven (Vicky) Bryhn of Kasson, MN and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Myron, Shirley was preceded in death by: her parents Maynard and Mary Oslie, brothers Donald, Robert, Dennis and sister Ramona. Father and mother-in-law Arthur and Stella Bryhn, sister-in-law, Gloria Oslie, brothers-in-law, Arvid Bryhn, Henry Onsrud, Eugene Knutson, Larry Bryhn, and Gordon Haag. Her niece Stacy Borchardt and nephew Anthony Knutson.

A special thanks to the staff at Springbrook, especially Lisa, Tanya, Courtney, Emily, Jo and Alex just to name a few and Gundersen Hospice as well as her many close friends over the years who made time to visit and spend time with Shirley.

Shirley enjoyed life to the fullest, her motto was “Make each day count!!” We will miss you more than you could possibly know.

In lieu of flowers please donate in Shirley’s name to the Moose Lodge, 1932 Ward Ave., La Crosse, WI.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4141 Mormon Coulee Rd., in La Crosse. Pastor Harald Bringsjord will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Good Shepherd Prayer Garden Columbarium.

A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m., until the time of service, Friday, at the church.

Online condolences or expressions of sympathy may be offered on this site.