Shirley M. Wegner, 86, of Whitewater died of Alzheimer’s on May 4, 2015, at Hearthstone in Whitewater.
She was born in Avalon, Rock County, on Jan 15, 1929, the daughter of George and Mae (Funk) Dodge. She was a Lima Township resident most of her life, moving to Janesville in 2002, then to Whitewater in 2010. Shirley married Arthur “Bud” Wegner in Emerald Grove on Aug. 28, 1948. After graduating from Janesville High School she worked at Gilman Engineering in Janesville, then became a devoted mother and homemaker. She was active in the Lima Center School and was the Sunday School Superintendent at North Lima Presbyterian Church. Later she became the Town of Lima Treasurer and was a long time member of the “Do Nothing Club.” After “retirement”, Shirley became Bud’s right-hand assistant in his tile business. She was cherished by friends during her many years of participating in card club. Besides the love of her family, Shirley was famously known for her potato salad and Christmas cut-out cookies.
She is survived by six children: David (Joni Nowak) Wegner, of Madison; Thomas (Cheryl) Wegner, of Whitewater; Mary (Randy) Brown, of Whitewater; Jane (Jerry) West, of Grafton; Mike (Dawn) Wegner, of Delavan; and Steve (Sara Van Egeren) Wegner, of Portland, Ore.; 14 grandchildren: Graham (Jennifer) Wegner; Brent (Lindsay Fischbach) Wegner; Scott (Novia) Wegner; Steve (Angie) Wegner; Lisa (Bruce) Polheber; Emily (Phill) Holcomb; Carrie (Ross) Lytle; Jill (Charlie) Fenton; Jared (Karen Sanchez) West; Jacob West; Derek (Becky) Wegner; Sarah (Christopher) Siebeneich; Cori (Matt) Wojtkunski; and Tilly Wegner; 10 great grandchildren: Benjamin Wegner, Mason Wegner, Ava, Jackson and Gemma Polheber, Maci, Ella and Paige Lytle, Blake and Chloe Wegner and Aubree Wojtkunski. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 62 years; a brother, Donald; and a sister, Dorothy.
A funeral service will take place at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater at 11 a.m., May 11 with the Rev. Will Houts officiating. A visitation will take place on May 11 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home until the time of the service. Interment will be in Darien Cemetery, Darien.
The Wegner family would like to extend their heartfelt “thank you” to the Fairhaven Hearthstone nursing and extended staff. Shirley especially loved her massages from Sharon (Blue Sage Massage). In lieu of flowers, Lasting Memorials may be made to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family.
