Shelly RaNae Goldfish

Shelly RaNae Goldfish, 57 of St. Paul, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at her home in the presence of her loving family. 

A Celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul. 

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Shelly was born on April 27, 1968, to Robert and LaJean (Kuhl) Kallenbach in Lincoln, NE. She graduated from Lincoln Southeast in 1986. Following high school, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned a teaching degree. While in college, she met the love of her life, Gary Goldfish. They were married on November 20, 1993, in Lincoln. To this union a daughter and son were born, Alyssa and Zane. Shelly was a kind, patient and gentle person. She was destined to be a lower elementary teacher. Shelly taught at St. Paul Public School for 17 years and Elba Public School for 8 years. Her family finds comfort in knowing her light still shines through the lives she touched as a teacher.

Shelly’s nurturing spirit made her the perfect “Grammy” to her two grandchildren. Shelly would shower Taya and Creighton with love every time they were together. They would snuggle up beside Grammy often, while she read children’s books to them. When Taya and Creighton were babies, Shelly would rock them in her arms and sing “Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty.”

Shelly found joy in the simple beauty of the world around her. The walking path in Dannebrog was her favorite place to take a stroll with her husband to enjoy some exercise and fresh air. She loved flowers and looked forward to visiting the local nurseries each spring. Many great memories were made on summer vacations with her family. She was an avid water skier, and boating at Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri was a passion of hers. Shelly and Gary shared the love of music, especially 1980’s rock music. They attended many concerts together and enjoyed seeing the likes of Billy Idol, Foreigner and Duran Duran on stage. 

Shelly’s friends were a true blessing to her. She loved exercising with her exercise group until her health prevented her from doing so. Her coffee group was equally cherished, and all of the ladies she socialized with helped her sustain her bright outlook on life.

Those left to cherish Shelly’s memory are her husband of 32 years, Gary Goldfish of St. Paul; daughter, Alyssa (Derek) Franzen of Gothenburg; grandchildren, Taya and Creighton Franzen; son, Zane Goldfish of Fort Polk, Louisiana; parents, Robert and LaJean Kallenbach of Lincoln; brothers, Cort Kallenbach of Lincoln, Greg (Lori) Kallenbach of Rising City; parents-in-law, William and Shirley Goldfish of Scotia; brothers-in-law, Steven (Valerie) Goldfish of Van Buren, Arkansas, Michael (Sherry) Goldfish of Scotia, Greg Zyntek of Jamestown, North Carolina, Quinn Vinson of Columbus; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Louis and Alice Kallenbach, Jean and Orleatha Kuhl; sisters-in-law, Kim Kallenbach, Billie Jo Zyntek, Becky Goldfish-Vinson; and nephew, Beau Zyntek.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the Grace Cancer Foundation, Grand Island. 

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.jacobsengreenway.com