Shirley Gullickson

Shirley Gullickson, 89, of Alta died Monday, July 20, 2026, at Accura Healthcare in Aurelia.

Funeral services will take place Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alta. Burial will be in the Scandinavian Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will take place Friday, July 24, from 5-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Orphan Grain Train at https://orphangraintrain-bloom.kindful.com/, The Lord’s Cupboard in Alta, or LWML at https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/lwml/online-donation-form.

Shirley Jean Gullickson (Schultz) was born on the family farm in Victor on July 6, 1937, to Eva Keller and Clarence Schultz. She joined her brother Kenneth and sister Lillian to complete the Schultz family. Her childhood was filled with the simple joys of Midwestern life. Family, faith and farming laid the foundation for her nurturing spirit. She was baptized into the Christian faith at St. John’s Lutheran church In Victor on July 22, 1937. She was confirmed March 18, 1951, and attend parochial school at St. John. She went on to graduate from Victor High School.

Following high school, mom went on to Concordia College to pursue her teaching certificate. Mom met Sherril (Mike) Hammer at Buena Vista College. They were united in marriage March 28, 1959. Mom would soon find out that a large garden would help feed her growing family. Six children were born to Shirley and Mike: Craig, Barb, Kevin, Marsha, Kirk and Connie. Mom’s love of nurturing plants would come in handy raising six kids. We all spent many days on the acreage side by side with mom tending the garden as she had tended to us growing up. Living on the acreage we would always have extra people sharing our table, mom wanted to take care of everyone!

Unfortunately, the marriage to Mike would not last. Not one to let life get her down, mom went back to school and received her nursing degree. She did this while still raising a family. Nurturing people now for a profession and gardening in her off time. She worked at Cherokee mental health for many years before retiring.

Mom and Ron (Gully) Gullickson were married in 1988. They enjoyed many years together gardening and traveling.

As mom grew older and her memory started to fail, the garden of memories she had started to fade. As mom’s season turned to winter, there was still a harvest. There was still a light in her eyes when she saw her family. There was still her enduring love for Jesus and her family. Like any well-tended garden, mom’s life continues to bear fruit. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are evidence of a well-tended garden.  

Predeceased by her parents, Eva and Clarence Schultz; her brother Kenneth Schultz; and sister Lillian Lonergan.

Mom’s memory is honored by her husband Gully; her devoted children: Craig (Lori) Hammer, Barb (Craig) Duitsman, Kevin (Toni) Hammer, Marsha (Ron) Lockwood, Kirk (Kim) Hammer and Connie Brown; and her grandchildren: Michael, Travis, Jamie, Jahde, Sara, Rick, Logan, Megan, Cayla and Vince; as well as 15 great-grandchildren.