Shirley McGinn

View Funeral Webcast

Shirley Sylvie (Schaper) McGinn, 74, passed away on June 16^th at the Good Life Center in Callaway. 

The daughter of Carlos and Ethel (Kleeb) Schaper, she was born on May 6, 1948, in Broken Bow, NE.  She completed her education in the Broken Bow Public Schools, graduating in 1966.  This is where her passion for music was developed, starting piano lessons as a young girl with her grandmother. Throughout school she accompanied many of the music ensembles and sang with many groups.  She enrolled at the University of Nebraska as a music major.  She perfected her voice, the oboe, piano, and organ at the University.  A disappointment was that she was never able to be a member of the Cornhusker Marching Band, as it was only for men.  She would have played the bell lyre if she had been able to march.  On March 9, 1967, Shirley married Jim Stockham.  After graduating from UNL with a degree in music education, they resided in Omaha where she taught elementary music in the Ralston Public Schools.  While living in Omaha, their daughter, Karen Julie was born on July 19, 1971.  Jim’s employment took them to Bloomington, Illinois, where they resided until the time of his death on May 29, 1974.  Returning to Broken Bow, a blind date introduced her to Butch (Charles) McGinn, who were married on September 8, 1975.   At that time, she became the organist for St. Anselm’s Catholic Church, a position she held until her illness would not allow her to continue.  On January 12th of 1979 they were blessed to be able to adopt their son, Matthew Charles.  The city girl took to living on the ranch as a wife and mother until deciding that she needed something more to do when their empty nest was upon them. She found employment at Square One in Broken Bow.  After working there several years, she decided to start her own clothing store, Kids Kloset.  This venture later became My Kloset and The Kloset. She was very proud to have brought a variety of shopping options to Custer County and she managed the stores until she was forced to retire from her illness. In addition, she was also involved in Friends of the Arts, Custer Coral, and the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce.  In retirement she found her next passion, playing bridge.  Wednesday bridge was on the calendar first and foremost.

Shirley is survived by husband Butch, daughter Karen and husband Mike Weverka, son Matthew McGinn and wife Karen, grandchildren Michaela Weverka and Andy McNeil, Savannah and husband Andrew Jacobsen, Mya Weverka, Cass McGinn, Karsee McGinn and Kinslee McGinn and a host of cousins, family, and friends. Preceding her in death were a baby sister Sharon Julie, her parents Carlos and Ethel Schaper, many cousins, aunts, and uncles; especially Lucile and Wayne Schmitz who thought of her as their own, brother-in-law Mike McGinn and sisters-in-law Patricia McGinn, and Jan McGinn. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, June 20, 2022, at 10:00 am at the St. Anselm’s Catholic Church in Anselmo, NE with Father Jim Hunt officiating.The service will be livestreamed at www.govierbrothers.com.  Burial will be in the St. Anselm’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Callaway Good Life Center. A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 19^th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow, then with family greeting friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church in Anselmo, NE, and then with Rosary to follow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.