Steve Shively

Steve Brainerd, MN Shively Stephen Edward Shively, Brainerd, MN, passed away at Lakewood Hospital while on hospice on July 20th, 2025 at the age of 78. He was born on May 1, 1947 to Ed and Helen Shively in Shelbyville, Indiana. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Greenfield. As a youth, he spent his summers playing baseball, delivering newspapers and swimming at the pool with his siblings and cousins. His high school years were filled with football, basketball, baseball and many shenanigans with his classmates in the class of 65, many of whom remained lifelong friends. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and spent 4 years serving as a Cryptologic Technician (CT3), much of it in the south pacific U.S. Territory of Guam, providing support to the Vietnam war effort in the region. Upon discharge in May of 1969, he enrolled at Ball State University and earned his business marketing degree in 1972, through the GI Bill. He was hired as a salesman for Union Oil in the Chicago area. During training in Charlotte, North Carolina, he met Iris Nelson, who ran the paint lab for the same company. After getting married in 1974 at St. Mathias Catholic church in Fort Ripley, Minnesota, they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in California. They spent most weekends hiking, camping, climbing Yosemite, and riding rollercoasters at Disneyland. During this time, Steve was re-diagnosed with diabetes. It took him several years to make lifestyle changes to ensure he would survive since his body was not making any insulin at all.

After 2 years living in Nevada, Steve, Iris and their 2 children moved back to Minnesota to be near Iris' family. They settled in Northeast Brainerd, where they've lived for the past 45 years. In May of 1980, Steve started his business distributing car care products, which he ran until May of 2003. Steve was the quintessential people person and an avid storyteller. He came alive when he was sharing his advice or recommending products. He coached youth basketball, loved watching his kids play sports and had a regular weekly card game with friends and family for many years where they played pinochle, cribbage, and smear. Steve loved food and his favorite meals to cook for his family were biscuits and gravy, meatloaf, and chili. He went with Iris to Dallas many years to support her Mary Kay business and even won a few golf tournaments on those trips. Steve was an avid reader who loved historical fiction almost as much as he loved movies. Back in the days when there were movie rental stores, he once discovered he had watched almost every movie in the place. In his later years, he read several hundred library books on his kindle.

In the early 90s, St. Andrews parish hosted a 4-day mission with Fr. Roberts. Steve grudgingly attended the 1st night and it changed his life. He kept going back and got more and more involved in the life of the church. He was involved in the Men's Club, Cursillo, TEC, Marriage Encounter, was a daily Mass altar server, sang in 2 different choirs, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and for decades, attended daily mass with Iris. He was also a member of the American Legion and quilted with the Mission Quilters at St. Andrews. Steve was passionate and fiery about the things for which he cared.

In 1999, Steve and Iris became foster parents and cared for more than 75 children, one of whom they adopted.

In 2003, his diabetes had progressed and both of his legs were amputated below the knee, one after the other, a month apart. He learned to walk again with his prosthesis by volunteering at St. Joseph's hospital delivering magazines. He also volunteered at the YMCA as a greeter, led rosaries at Woodland Nursing Home, called Bingo at Carefree Assisted Living and at the Brainerd Senior Center. In 2007, his sister Karen donated a kidney to him. It was considered a perfect match and kept him alive for 18 more years. Karen, you are our hero!

The last 20 years of Steve's life have been bonus years and such a blessing. He was able to attend his children's weddings, watch his grandchildren grow up, play countless card games with family, and even vacationed in Hawaii with friends. For years, he rode an electric scooter around the neighborhood and loved to stop at Triangle to get ice cream.

The last few years, Steve was in and out of the hospital and rehab at Lakewood Care Center, spending almost more time there than at home. But he never gave up or stopped fighting. He was finally felled by an infected wound that wouldn't heal at age 78. Steve and Iris celebrated 51 years of marriage this April.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Iris, his children Aaron (Tiffany Elste) Shively, Gretchen (Antonio) Amigon, Laura (Corey) Oeltjenbruns, Martha (Isaac) Ray, Angelina Likens Shively, siblings Larry (Cheri) Shively, Kathy Clift, Joyce Daniel, Karen (Dennis) Radford, siblings-in-law William (Susan) Nelson, Ed (Gayle Goff) Nelson, Rosanne (Bruce) Caughey, Mary Nelson, Ron (Barb) Nelson and Gloria (Rick Williams) Nelson, godchildren Dan Caughey, Tracy Nelson, Veronica Geisenhoff, Reagan Coleman and his beloved 19 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers-in-law Gerald Daniel, Leo Nelson, Duane Nelson and 10 grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Andrews Catholic Church on Monday, July 28th at 11 am with Fr. Phillip Mayer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mathias Cemetery in Fort Ripley. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd, MN.