Shirley Joann Edith Falkenstein

Shirley Joann Edith (Luckow) Falkenstein, 90, of Belvidere passed away on December 30, 2020 at Cherryvale Place, Rockford, IL from Covid19. Shirley was born in Belvidere, IL to Henry and Edith Luckow on September 12, 1930. She graduated from Belvidere High School where she met and married Harold (Bob) Falkenstein on January 28, 1951. She and Bob spent their lives in Belvidere where she owned a beauty shop in her home and was a beautician for 60 years, retiring at age 77. She loved big family gatherings which were always full of good food and many laughs. She especially loved spending quality time with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved her beautiful flower gardens, ceramics, oil painting, and flower arranging. She enjoyed a good auction and had a nack for restoring her treasures. Her personality was, patient, kind, and compassionate to all. For every holiday she shared her meals with the elderly, and those alone were welcomed to her table. Shirley was a longtime member of 1st United Methodist Church of Belvidere. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her son, William “Butch” (Jaclyn) Falkenstein of Rock Falls, IL; daughters, Bonnie Brown and Brenda (Brad) Larson of Belvidere; grandchildren, Chad (Andrea) Schabacker of NE Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Travis Akers of Kirkland, IL, Dr. Erin (Brad) Graves of Sterling, IL, Nathan (Leah) Falkenstein of El Segundo, CA; great-grandchildren; Tyler, Isaac, Alex and Derek Schabacker, Sam Brown, Chase and Kaylee Akers, Sydney and Jack Graves; step-grandchildren, Scott Brown, Todd (Amy) Brown; sisters, Peggy (Jack) Wolf, Bonnie (Jack) Shattuck, sisters-in law, Charlene (Gordon) Luckow, Donna (Kenny) Luckow, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband, Harold “Bob”, her parents and great-grandchild, Tanner Schabacker; brothers, Lloyd (Jo) Luckow, Kenny (Donna) Luckow, and Gordon (Charalene) Luckow; sisters, Sherrill Luckow, Betty (Bob) Hogfeldt, Lorraine (Charles) McKissick, and Donna (Jim) Whalen and son-in-law, Mickey (Bonnie) Brown.

A special thanks to Heartland Hospice for all the loving and compassionate care given to mom over the past few years.

Per her wishes, Shirley will be cremated with services to be determined at a later date in the spring. Memorials may be sent to Heartland Hospice, 6000 E. State St. FL 1, Rockford, IL 61108. Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108. Express condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com