Obituary of Shirley Marian Wilson

Shirley Marian (Koskela) Wilson, of Two Harbors, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2024.

The oldest of four children, she was born in Duluth on December 23, 1935 to George and Melita (Jurvelin) Koskela and raised in Virginia, Mn. Shirley was proud of her Finnish heritage and demonstrated the Sisu qualities of courage, determination (and some stubbornness) throughout her life. Following high school graduation, Shirley received technical business training and was employed in Milwaukee and in Duluth before meeting her future husband.

Shirley married Robert G. Wilson on July 6, 1957 and they settled in Two Harbors to raise their family. Bob and Shirley were dedicated owners for many years of the Standard Oil Service Station and Bob’s Voyager Drive-Inn. She was a founding member of the Two Harbors Industrial Council, serving for twenty years, and ended her working career at Cavallin Plumbing.

Following retirement and the sale of the cabin on Stone Lake in Brimson, Shirley was able to play golf year round while wintering in Tucson and summering in the Solon Springs area. After Bob’s death in 2011, Shirley returned to the Duluth area and enjoyed the theatre, following high school and UMD hockey, socializing over a game of bridge or golf, cheering the Vikings on, and connecting with relatives, classmates, and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, grandson Tyler Wilson, brother Bob Koskela, brother-in-law Phil Anshus, and many other treasured relatives and dear friends. She is survived by her children Cindy (Randy) Wilson-Nordskog, Cathy (Herb) Woody, and Curt Wilson, grandchildren Claire (Zach) Claflin and their daughters Signe and Britta and Ben (Hannah) Nordskog and their children Anja, Bode, and Sonja, her sisters Eleanor Anshus and Georgene (Mark) Tomazin, her sister-in-law Jan Koskela, and numerous family members and friends.

A private family service will be held at 1pm on Friday, June 14 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Two Harbors. Her ashes will be interred next to Bob at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Condolences may be mailed to PO Box 1, Two Harbors, MN 55616.