Shawn Ilene Shanahan Brown was born 5/29/68 and passed 5/9/25 at Omaha Methodist Hospital.
Shawn was born to Harvey and Linda Bergman in Fremont. She graduated from Fremont High School in 1986, attended the University of Kearney, and studied at Harvard Business School.
Proceeded in death: grandparents, Guy and Marie Allgood, Shirley and Wynn Bergman, uncle, Robert Allgood, aunt, Saundra Leeper, cousin, Tiffany Baier, and mother-in-law, Pearl Brown.
Survivors: parents, Harvey and Linda Bergman (Fremont), husband, Pat Brown (Fremont), daughter, Allyssia and Zach Nieman (Fremont), sons, Cameron and Jessica Jugler (Valley), Conner and Brittany Jugler (Fremont) Beau Shanahan and significant other, Karina Capron (Fremont), and Nick Brown (Fremont); daughter, Shawnda Shanahan (Fremont), and 11 grandchildren; brothers, Wynn and Jennifer Bergman (Kansas City, MO) and Shannon Bergman (Bellevue) and many cousins and friends.
Shawn married the love of her life, Pat Brown, on 6/6/22. She had many accomplishments, but her favorite names were daughter, wife, mom, and nana.
She served as the Executive Director of Fremont Area United Way for over 10 years and as the Director of Fremont Methodist Foundation for over the past 5 years.
If you live in or around the Fremont community, I can 100% guarantee that your life has been directly or indirectly impacted by the work and efforts of Shawn. She has shared her talents for decades in the schools, churches, health systems, the community of social workers, non-profits, and serves on numerous boards. She was the saving grace for our community during the 2019 flood, advocating for everyone she encountered, shared and connected people with the appropriate resources, and was instrumental in fundraising campaigns throughout our community.
She was tough as nails, determined, and could literally hang the moon. That said, even the strongest end the fight with dignity and grace.
The family wants to celebrate her life and legacy as Shawn would want us all to not grieve her loss but celebrate all she was.
Memorials can be directed to the family.
The celebration of life service will be held 10:30 AM, Friday, May 16, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Fremont. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Thursday, May 15, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Fremont.
The burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Fremont.
