Shirley Ann Knakmuhs, age 85 of Walnut Grove, passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, August 31, 2023 at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Walnut Grove. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 5 at Walnut Grove Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday. Interment will be in the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery near Walnut Grove. 

Shirley Ann (Pederson) Knakmuhs was born September 1, 1937 to Oscar and Anna (Hoffrogge) Pederson on the family farm south of Lamberton.  She was baptized and confirmed at Highwater Lutheran Church near Lamberton. Shirley graduated from Lamberton High School.  On November 12, 1955, Shirley married Lloyd Knakmuhs at Highwater Lutheran Church. Shirley was the church secretary and a Sunday school teacher at Revere Lutheran Church and later joined St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Walnut Grove.  Shirley was a dietary cook for Valley View Manor and also cooked in other establishments. She enjoyed cooking and making meals for family, especially pies and desserts. You often find Shirley in her garden, enjoying her flowers.  She enjoyed sewing and sewed Charlotte dolls for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Shirley and Lloyd enjoyed traveling with friends to Hawaii, Las Vegas, the east coast and many other places. She loved word search puzzles, dancing, playing cards and visiting with friends.

Shirley is survived by her husband Lloyd of 67 years; children: Brad (Wendy) of Westbrook and Deb (Bob) Jenniges of Revere; grandchildren: Jessica (Jed) Knakmuhs, Abby (John) Jennings, Morganne (Gavin) Mattison, Bobbie Jo Jenniges, Brandon (Asahi Nagata) Jenniges and Dylan (Krissy) Jenniges; great grandchildren: Konsondra Duerksen, Konner Hacker, Brady Small, Raelynn, Macy & Luca Mattison, Avery Anderson, Cash Willer and Ichiko Jenniges; siblings: James, David (Nancy) & Roger Pederson and Marie (Harold) Hutchinson; sister-in-law Mary Pederson; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, son Ron Knakmuhs, brothers Alvin, Kenneth, Darrell, Richard & Phillip Pederson.