Shirley Diane Kingsley

Shirley Diane (Steinkruger) Kingsley passed away at the age of 83. She was born in Franklin County, Nebraska to a German farming family, the middle of three children. When she was young, her mother had a series of strokes which required that Shirley, as the only girl, take over all of the household duties. This experience shaped her strong spirit and her unwavering dedication to caring for others.

She graduated high school early, at the age of 16, and then completed her nursing bachelor's degree in 3 years at Hastings College. Shirley worked as an operating room nurse in the places where she lived including Russellville, Arkansas; Sheridan, Wyoming; and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her longest time was spent in Hastings, Nebraska, where she worked at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, and in Clear Lake, Texas where she retired to be close to her grandchildren.

She had many wonderful friends spread out across the United States. She loved sewing, quilting, playing bridge, cooking, baking, teaching others to cook and bake (especially Shirley rolls, sugar cookies and runzas), traveling, spending time with friends and family, playing the piano, singing in church choirs, volunteering at church, and bragging about her children and grandchildren. She loved God and was a life-long Lutheran. Her last church family was House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers.

She is survived by three children, four grandchildren, numerous cousins and many friends.

She will be missed by all who loved her.

Visitation will be from noon to 1:00 PM at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, followed by a funeral service beginning at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 14045 Space Center Blvd, Houston, Texas, 77062.

Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin, Nebraska with Pastor Marcia Dorn officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials in Shirley's name to:

Greater Houston T1D Resources & Support | Breakthrough T1D (https://www.breakthrought1d.org/greaterhoustontx/) or Home | Epilepsy Foundation of Texas (EFTX) (https://www.eftx.org/).