Shirley Jean (Franklin) Rotter

A Celebration of Life for Shirley J. Rotter, 82, Madison, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  Inurnment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

The following is based on the true story of Shirley Jean Franklin Rotter. Or mostly true. Those of you wanting clarification may certainly ask any of her 5 children who inherited her gift of gab.

Our beautiful silver-haired Rotter Matriarch with the mischievous unforgettable smile passed away Feb 19, 2020.   Born April 19, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Jean & Joseph Franklin, Shirley Jean Franklin married William (Ben) Rotter in 1956 in Trenton, NE. Stationed overseas, their  first two children Cyndi & Matt were born in France followed by Debby, Kris, & Stacy in McCook, NE. Residing in Trenton, the marriage ending in divorce, Shirley worked at Rotter’s Department Store, the State Bank of Trenton, and then ultimately retiring after 20 years of working in the ASCS/FSA Office.

A love of country music, bird watching, any and all flowers, a cold can of Coke with a personal message, and Tom Selleck filled Shirley’s life while living in Lincoln, NE after retirement.  After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Shirley moved to Countryside Home in Madison, where she surrendered after a five-year battle with this horrific disease. Shirley is survived by  5 children: Cyndi (Ray) Rotter-Hansen of Norfolk, NE; Matt Rotter of Palisade, NE; Deb Hansen of Lincoln, NE; Kris (Brad) Rooney of Trenton, NE; Stacy Rotter of Palisade, NE.; and brothers Jim Franklin of Omaha, NE and John Franklin.  There are also seven grandchildren (Eric, Bryan (Amber), Sarah, Jeremey, Nick (Nancy), Travis (Jess), Dylan) and nine great grandchildren who will grow up being told per Grandma Shirley’s sage advice: always wear clean underwear in case of possible car accidents. Shirley was preceded in death by both parents and her siblings Jerry Franklin, Elaine Jacobsen, and Carollee Wallen.

Wrangling 5 Rotter young’uns on her own, Shirley instilled in her children a strong work ethic, self-reliance, prioritizing needs, a quirky sense of humor, and to never doubt that she could “give you something to cry about.”  It is unanimous that her death will give us all that “something.”

To honor our mother, the family is asking that you donate to the Alzheimer’s Society and/or visit a nursing home soon, bringing the gift of joy and peace to someone there who needs it.

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