Shirley Jean (Clark) Stolzenburg Nutter was born in rural Cloud County, Kansas, to James Clark and Alice (Kimmal) Clark on July 9, 1937. She passed peacefully on March 13, 2025, at Presbyterian Manor in Salina, KS.
Shirley was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother. As a child Shirley attended the Methodist Church, the Church of Faith, and Sibley Rural Elementary School; and graduated with honors from Concordia High School in 1955 while also working part-time at the Delmer F. Harris Company, a local playground manufacturer. She met and married Harlan Stolzenburg in 1956 and enjoyed working on the farm with Harlan as well as several bookkeeping, banking, and customer service jobs over the next few years. She especially enjoyed her career with KPL Gas Service where she built lifelong relationships and was grateful for the opportunity to leave and return multiple times as needed to focus her attention on her three children, Susan, Rhonda, and Matt. She retired from KPL (Western Resources) in 1991 with over 15 years of service to the company in various roles.
For the next several years, Shirley and Harlan cherished spending time with their young granddaughter, Stephanie, and later enjoyed traveling across the country as tour guide, bus driver and part-owners of Thunderbird Travel.
Upon Harlan’s passing in 1996, Shirley began working at Centel Electric and later returned to the banking industry as a teller at Citizens National Bank where she formed close bonds with her co-workers and loved taking care of her customers.
After retiring once again, Shirley still felt the need to “be useful” and chose to volunteer her time as a North Central Kansas Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), devoting herself to conducting investigations to help Courts make informed decisions regarding the fostering and care of neglected and abused children.
In 2008, Shirley met Charles Nutter (also a 1955 graduate of Concordia High) through former classmates. They were married in 2011 and spent the next 14 years sharing common interests in farming, antique cars, and travel, making occasional trips to casinos, NASCAR races and rodeos; and organizing high school reunions while living primarily in Salina and spending winters in Tucson, Arizona. Charles remained devoted to Shirley during her last few months of life, making frequent trips to spend time with her while she received nursing care in Salina.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Charles Nutter of Concordia; daughters Susan Melhus (Tim Nicholson) of Concordia, and Rhonda Palmquist of Solomon; son Dr. Matthew Stolzenburg (Shelly Korinek) of Salina; one granddaughter, Stephanie Melhus of Concordia; stepson Steve Nutter (Christine Gailey), Foster City, CA; stepdaughters Diane Hieb (Charles Hieb), Prescott, AZ; Debbie Nutter, Naalehu, HI; and Rachel Nutter (Ton van Schijndel), Uden, The Netherlands; and many other treasured friends and family members including nieces and nephews who were dear to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Harlan Stolzenburg; sisters Harriet Tatro and Phyllis Bryan; four nephews; one grandnephew; and several other cherished friends and relatives.
Shirley loved and cared for her family selflessly, and will be remembered by many for her kindness, sharp wit, and quick sense of humor which she continued to share with her family and those who cared for her during her last few months of life.
Shirley’s wish was for immediate cremation. There will be no visitation or service at this time. A family gathering at Mount Hope Cemetery northwest of Clyde is planned for later this summer to bury Shirley’s cremains next to Harlan.
Memorials contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice or NCK CASA - Cloud County, KS, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th Street, Salina, KS 67401.
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