Shirley Hoffman "Shird" Rydman

Rydman, Shirley Marie Hoffman "Shird" Age 89, died December 22 after nine joy-filled decades. Great- -great-granddaughter to one of Kearney, Nebraska's first sod house dwellers, Shird's tenacious life spirit was felt by all those around her. Her surgeon father, Lloyd Hoffman, and life-of-the- party mom, Glady Heacock, raised her in Omaha with younger siblings Phyd Engdahl and Bud Hoffman. She attended Dundee Elementary School and met the love of her life, Robert Rydman, in the second grade where he frequently made up excuses to sneak her out of class. She attended the University of Nebraska and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married Bob before he shipped overseas for WWII and they drove his parent's Studebaker to California for their honeymoon. After the war ended, Shird and Bob started their life and their family in Lincoln, Nebraska, while Bob earned his law degree. Daughter, Carol Lord, and son, Rob Rydman, rounded out their family of four. Shird spent many happy years in Edina, Minnesota, where she honed her golf and bridge game, while winning accolades for her fabulous cooking from soon-to-be son-in-law, Bill Lord. Eventually she and Bob made their way back to their friends and home state of Nebraska setting up residence in Lincoln. Her granddaughters Kim Arndt and Kris Criscione soon arrived to her delight and kept her busy with trips to Pioneer Park, disco dancing and eventually their own children - Sophie, Will, Nick, Ellie, Sam, and Charlie. Shird cheated time and age in her passion for all kinds of activities - scuba lessons in the YMCA pool, yoga, art museum tours, gardening and a football class that culminated in running actual plays in NU stadium. She set the real estate world on fire starting a new career when others thought of retirement - quickly becoming a regular member of the Million Dollar Club for Woods Brothers Realty. Some speculated that her hair-raising driving might have encouraged house-buying clients to make a quick decision. Eternally sunny, Shird was known for her constant use of superlatives and her unique lexicon - as she'd announced something the best thing she'd ever tasted and declared "hot damn!" as she buried you in a bridge match. Shird never passed up a hot cup of Earl Grey tea and loved a cold beer on a warm beach, while watching her great-grandchildren play in the sand or float on the surf of the Michiana Shores. Shird was always welcoming new family and friends into her life - including nephews, nieces, grandsons-in-law Tom Arndt and Rob Criscione, as well as Stacey, Julia and Mitch Johnson. Memorials can be made in her honor to Jones-Harrison Residence, 3700 Cedar Lake Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55416, where she loved the staff and residents. Private family service. Bestow an exuberant compliment on a stranger today and know our dearest Shirdy is with you. Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Shirley Hoffman "Shird" Rydman

December 27, 2009

Tributes

Shirley Hoffman "Shird" Rydman

December 27, 2009

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