Shirley (Walker) Oshel

Shirley Oshel, age 100 passed from this Earth to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and to rejoin her beloved husband, Val and the other Saints on the 26th day of June, 2026.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Val Oshel, her parents, Carl Walker, Nelle Walker, and Thelma Walker, and an infant son, James Carl Oshel and brothers, Robert Carl Walker, Donald George Walker, James Edward Walker, and Dr. Earl E. Walker.

     She is survived by her son, Michael Val (Nancy) Oshel, granddaughter, Alison Elaine (Jason) Cook and great grandchildren Stormie, Kynlie, Braxton and Liam, and by her grandson, Matthew Michael Val (Bethany) Oshel, and great grandchildren, Eli, Hudson, Shirley Anne, and Lottie. She is survived by her sister Pat McArdle of New Port 1 Ritchey, Florida, and sister-in-law, Ruth Walker of Jerseyville, Illinois, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

     Shirley was born in New Lexington, Ohio, on February 12th, 1926. She attended St. Bernice High School of St. Bernice, Indiana and St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing.

     After graduation, Shirley moved to Harrisburg to be near her parents, brothers and sister. Shirley served as surgical assistant to Dr. W. D. Tuttle. Shirley and Val Oshel were married on May 16th, 1949, and they soon moved to Owensboro, KY where she served as Surgery Supervisor at Owensboro Davis County Hospital and she taught Surgery Classes in conjunction with Murray State College of Murray, Kentucky. 

     In 1956, they moved back to Harrisburg where Shirley, with great assistance from Dr. W. D. Tuttle and many other community professionals, wrote the curriculum and established The Harrisburg School of Practical Nursing. Graduates of the first class ranked above State and National levels in passing State Board Exam for Licensed Practical Nursing. She remained in that position where the number of students in that first class of thirteen grew to forty students.

     In 1968, she moved to Springfield with her husband, Val, who had been appointed as a member of Governor Richard Ogilvie's Cabinet. She was appointed as Head Consultant for Health Occupation for the State of Illinois.

     After five years, they returned to Harrisburg where Shirley helped convert the LPN nursing program to an Associate Degree Nursing Program. She also served as the Harrisburg Medical Center Director of Nursing and she later served on the Harrisburg Medical Center Board of Trustees.

     She was a member of First Baptist Church of Harrisburg, IL and Chapter Z, P.E.O.

     During her lifetime she was privileged to receive many honors: 1991 Woman Of Achievement by Harrisburg Business and Professional Women's Organization; 1999 Citizen of the year by Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce; Illinois Woman of Achievement Award by League of Women Voters of Illinois and the Illinois Municipal League. She found her most special professional honor to be that of having The Shirley Oshel Nursing Complex named for her at the Fiftieth Anniversary of SIC Practical Nursing Program.

    A visitation period will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026 and a Celebration of Life will be held at Stricklin Funeral Home at 2:30 with a burial afterwards at Sunset Lawn Cemetery in Harrisburg, IL. Her family and friends will remember her for her faith in God, her willingness to help others, and her love for her family. In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial donation to the Shirley Oshel LPN Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg, IL 62946.

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