Shirley (Rolfs) Meidinger

Shirley Eleanor (Rolfs) Meidinger died May 3, 2022, in Edina, Minnesota, at age 98. As a young woman, she wrote the book, Freezing Foods At Home, before moving to Jamestown in 1962 when she married Roland E. Meidinger.

Shirley was born on September 13, 1923, to Thomas George and Edith (Beard) Rolfs. She was raised on a farm in Lawton, Iowa. In 1945, she graduated from Iowa State University as a home economist, and moved to Minneapolis, where she had her office in the Foshay Tower. She was a businesswoman ahead of her time in the 1940’s and ‘50’s.

In Jamestown, she belonged to the First United Methodist Church, P.E.O., A.A.U.W., Portfolio Club and Wednesday Club.  She supported the University of Jamestown, the Jamestown Regional Medical Center, and most recently, the Meidinger Splash Pad.

Young children always brought a smile to her face. Her cookies and parfaits were loved by all, and she was an accomplished seamstress. Books and travel inspired her. She had a good eye for design, and a very quick mind. While Shirley was independent, she doted on family and friends.  She visited and wrote often, and in Jamestown, she enjoyed her many clubs and playing bridge.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband, step-daughter Andrea VanHorne, six siblings: Esther Nelson, Claus Rolfs, Dorothy Kaup, Edith Rayburn, Elsie Foster and Richard Rolfs, and two sisters-in-law Marcella Burritt and Evangeline Henson.  She is survived by grandchildren ClaraMary (Denny) Winebrenner, John (Pam) VanHorne and Charles (Ann) VanHorne, five great grandchildren and a great-great grandson. She also left many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in Highland Home Cemetery.  Memorials can be made to the Church or the University of Jamestown.

Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.