Shirley May Holm

life story

A Minnesota girl who loved the outdoors

Shirley grew up and spent most of her life in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she raised two wonderful children. An educator most of her life, she also loved gardening and the national parks.

About Shirley

Shirley May Holm, who loved gardens and parks, schoolchildren and grandchildren, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, at her home in San Francisco. She was 75.

Shirley was born May 16, 1951, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Howard and Evelyn Holm. She, her brother and two sisters – Howard Jr. (Buddy), Carole and Darlene – grew up on the east side of Saint Paul and attended public schools. Shirley graduated from Johnson Senior High in 1969, then earned a bachelor’s degree from Hamline University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

She married Robert Friedlander in 1984, and the couple bought a house in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood, where her two children, David and Rachel, were born and raised. Robert died of cancer in 1994.

Shirley began her career as an educator at the University of Minnesota, where she worked in the experimental University Without Walls. After 20 years there, she joined the faculty at Ramsey Junior High and, later, Como Senior High in Saint Paul. Shirley moved to California in 2012, where she taught at California State University, Chico, and supervised the university’s student teachers.

One of Shirley’s great passions was gardening. After she left her Alley Award-winning garden on Fairmount Avenue in Saint Paul, she tended plots in the community gardens in Chico and in San Francisco, where she also served as president of the Argonne Community Garden.

Shirley also loved America’s national parks. She visited 60 of the 63 parks, missing the 61st this past summer when the blood disease that took her life forced her to cancel a trip to Lake Clark in Alaska.

Shirley is survived by her longtime partner, Mark Plenke; her son David, his wife Susan, and grandsons Orion and Robin; her daughter Rachel Keown and her husband, Justin, and grand-dog Teddy, all of San Francisco; her sisters Darlene Kriz and Carole Holm; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was also “Grandma Shirley” to Mark’s grandchildren, Bertie and Marty Plenke-Hammond, and their parents, Max and Josie of Oak Park, Illinois.

The family will host a gathering in Shirley’s memory from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 17, at DeGidio’s Restaurant and Bar, 425 7th St. W. in Saint Paul.

Instead of flowers, please consider a gift to the National Park Foundation in Shirley’s name at http://give.nationalparks.org/goto/shirleyholm

memorial service

Celebration of Life

October 17, 2026

DeGidio's Restaurant & Bar, St. Paul 425 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102, USA

Lunch will be provided; a cash bar will be available.