Shirley Fredine Bylund

Shirley Fredine Bylund, 97, of Audubon, passed away Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Exira Care Center in Exira.

Shirley F Bylund, daughter of Fred and Oma (Harsha) Gardner, was born October 3, 1928, in Fredericksburg, Iowa. She attended school in Rhodes, Iowa, before the family moved to a farm near Nevada, Iowa, in her senior year, where she graduated from Milford High School. Shirley then worked her way through Iowa State Teachers College by working at Donnely’s Magazine Company, addressing envelopes, and being promoted to management due to her typing speed and accuracy. Later, she attended Drake University, completing her Bachelor’s and working toward her Master’s Degree.

Shirley taught school from age 18 till 62, mostly in Viola and Audubon. While living in the teachery at Viola, attending a basketball game, she met Milo Bylund, and they were later united in marriage at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, on August 6, 1950. From this union, Susan Jane and Roger Milo were born.

Milo and Shirley were charter members of the Audubon County Campers Club for nearly five decades. They enjoyed traveling across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and spending their winters of retirement in Mesa, Arizona. Shirley was a lifelong seamstress, second to none, and took up quilting as well.

After leaving the classroom, it was time to excel on her shuffleboard team, amassing a shelf full of 1st Place Trophies.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed playing cards, games (especially bingo), reading and in retirement started her passion for acrylic painting. Outdoor scenery was her favorite style with one winter scene that she actually had made into Christmas cards and sent to friends along with relatives.

Shirley was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, where she taught Sunday School and served on various committees. She was also a member of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, but her favorite was attending the Retired Teachers gatherings. Milo and Shirley enjoyed the Circle A Square Dancers Club along with the Phyllis Jensen Dance Group meeting new people creating lifelong friendships. Shirley was very social, and it took forever for her to acknowledge everyone in a room, which prompted Milo to say, “Shirley, we will be leaving shortly, so you better get started on your 45 minutes of goodbyes so I can get home”. Shirley had a fun and fulfilled life while giving advice and loved freely.

Proceeding her in death were her parents, husband, father-in-law, and mother-in-law: Herbert and Mable Bylund, her brothers and sisters: Duane, Ronald, and Phyllis Watson, great-grandsons Jonah Lake and Jacob Lake, and great-granddaughter Kate Griffith.

Survivors are her sister: Norma Jean Jacobson, and brother: Charles Leroy Gardner, her daughter: Susan and husband Bill Lake of Independence, IA , grandson Nickolas & Kelli Lake, Independence, and great granddaughter Mckenize Lake, grandson Jospeh & Melissa Lake, Van Meter, IA great grandson Paker Lake, great granddaughters, Hannah and Ashlyn Lake, grandson James & Jessica Lake, Independence, IA great granddaughters, Jenavieve, Julianna, Jaclyn, Josephine, and Jayden, granddaughter Abigail & Chadd Sargent, Winthrop, IA great granddaughters Elizabeth and Aria Sargent, step great grandson Devon & Delilah Johnson. son Roger & Julie Bylund, Audubon, IA granddaughter Heather & Andy Griffith, Audubon, IA great granddaughters Emma and Brenna Griffith, great grandson Aiden Griffith, grandson Chris Bylund (Traci Irlmeier), Harlan, IA , great grandson Alex (Bylund) Merk, Harlan, IA, Michael & Megan Bylund, Papillion, NE, great granddaughter Briar Bylund, granddaughter Susie & Brady Heller, Council Bluffs, IA, great granddaughter Blair Heller, and great grandson Beck Heller, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon, IA, with Pastor Carla Evers officiating. An interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon following the funeral. Following the committal, a luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church.

Public visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the Shirley Bylund Family; they will be designated at a later date in her honor and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

Services are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.