Shirley Bodmer Obituary

Shirley Ida Bodmer (Wyckoff, Finfrock), of Tucson, AZ, formerly of Omaha, NE and Lawrence, KS, died peacefully in her sleep on August 3, 2017. Born on January 9, 1925, she is predeceased by her parents, Ralph D. and Myrtie R. (Phillips) Wyckoff of Osborne, KS, by her late husbands, A. Merle Finfrock of Lawrence, KS. and Dr. Robert E. Bodmer of Omaha, NE and by her daughter, Glenda S. Finfrock, Columbus, OH. Shirley was born in Waldo, KS, graduated from Waldo High School, attended McPherson College until World War 2, at which point married Merle Finfrock and moved to Chicago where she worked as a secretary in the purchasing department for an effort later understood to be the Manhattan Project. They later moved to Lawrence, KS where she worked as the Office Manager for Lawrence High School and later in USD 497 district offices and helped her five children graduate from the university.

Shirley will be remembered by her children as "the best Mother ever" and by her friends as a "very dear and caring friend". She loved her grandkids and leaves her grandchildren with fond memories of a grandmother who read to them, took them on picnics and shared her time with them. Her marriage to Robert Bodmer in 1994 gave her many happy years of wedded bliss in Omaha, NE, most of them spent telling stories, laughing, attending church, playing cards with friends and holding hands.

Survivors include her daughter, Karen A. Aiken of Sausalito, CA., and her sons, S. Randall Finfrock (Jackie) of Oro Valley, AZ, Andrew M. (Elizabeth M.) Finfrock of Los Gatos, CA, and R. Craig (Lisa Gies) of Tucson, AZ, and her grandchildren Joshua N. Aiken and Matthew Aiken of Colorado and Jesse M. Finfrock of Oakland, CA and Angela G. Finfrock of Denmark, Western Australia.