Shirley A. Kraeger, 83, of Shawano, and formerly of the Marion area,
passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at her home.
The former Shirley Anne Felts was born Aug. 29, 1930, in the town of
Seneca, Shawano County, to William and Olga (Giessel) Felts. As a young
girl, her parents attended and "lived at" many county fairs, especially in
Shawano and Wausau. Shirley always loved farming and Jersey cattle.
Shirley caught a Holstein calf at the first Shawano County 4-H Club Calf
Rodeo when she was 16 and raised it with all of the family's Jerseys. The
4-H club even honored Shirley with the "Healthiest Girl in Shawano County"
award. She was chosen as a State Farm Bureau representative at the
convention held in Madison also at the age of 16. She attended Bowler High
School and stayed busy with many extra-curricular activities, which included
singing in the chorus, playing clarinet in the band, being a FFA member and
being the pitcher on the softball team. Shirley was on the Panther staff for two
years and became editor of the school newspaper during her senior year. She
graduated in 1948 as salutatorian and was chosen to receive the DAR Award as a
senior. She went on the School of Beauty Culture in Green Bay, graduating
in 1949, and started working for Edna Lockwood at Vanity Fair in
Clintonville, where she earned her manager's license. Shirley was united in
marriage on Jan. 30, 1952, to Medard C. Kraeger at the Catholic parsonage
in Gresham. The couple farmed, worked and lived around this area in
different locations all of their married life. Over the years, she worked
for Jean Dieck in Clintonville, June Hildebrandt in Marion and later for
Pat's Ladyfair, until she retired after 40 years as a beautician.
Shirley volunteered as a Shawano County 4-H leader for about 25 years and a
general leader of McKinley 4-H while she raised her family in Marion. In
1999 she received first place for writing the "Fairest Fair Story" for Shawano
County. Shirley only missed one fair in Shawano due to her first child's
birth. She helped her dad, and then her husband, do the janitorial work at
the Tilleda Community Hall. Her husband preceded her in death on Oct.
19, 2004. Shirley was honored to serve as parade marshal for the Tilleda
parade in July 2013. Shirley remained a lifetime member of the Tilleda
Advancement Club, was secretary of the Senior Citizens Card Club in
Tigerton, and was a longtime member of Peace Lutheran Church, Tilleda. She
sang in the choir since she was young, served as congregation president,
vice president and secretary of Peace & Elias parishes, on student council, on church
council, as historian, as AAL recorder and was currently secretary of education
of the Peace Church ladies. Dancing, camping and fishing were her favorite
pastimes. The family has beautiful memories of sitting around the campfire,
singing, roasting marshmallows, and making pudgy pies and smores. Beside
God and family, she loved music, reading books, watching old movies, doing
crafts, ceramic painting, writing letters, sewing, swimming for exercise,
knitting and crocheting. Shirley traveled most of the country, learned to
use the computer late in her life, and rode her bicycle until the age of 68
years.
Survivors include six children, James (Cindy) Kraeger, of Weston, Allen (Kay)
Kraeger, of Waupaca, Kathleen (Otto) Maves, of Bowler, Mark (Kathy) Kraeger, of
Marion, Sherry (Leroy) Voelz, of Leopolis, and Tom (Sheryl) Kraeger, of
Caroline. There are 13 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Andrew) Schultz, of
Slinger, Adam Kraeger, of Weston, Andrew Kraeger, of Merrill, Mandy (Kanaysa)
Heath, of Phoenix, Ariz., Peter (Caroline) Kraeger, of Howard, Austin (Jamie)
Kraeger, of Wausau, Chad (Heather) Maves, of Hatley, Christopher Voelz, of
Leopolis, Justin Kraeger, of Clintonville, Courtney Kraeger, of Marion, Trevor
Kraeger, of Weston, Rachel Voelz, of Leopolis, and Elyssa Kraeger, of Weston.
There are 12 great grandchildren, Tyria Heath, Alea Marecek, Jasper Ingalls,
Emerald Heath, Jyles Kraeger, Quinn Schulz, Kyla Schulz, Ethan Kraeger, Evan
Kraeger, Auwynn Kraeger, Jeremiah Kraeger and Nora Maves. Shirley is
further survived by a sister-in-law, Colleen (friend Don) Kraeger, a stepbrother, Albert "Buddy" (Betty) Buelter, and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Medard; a brother, Lavern (Helene)
Felts; and two sisters, Gladys (Ray Kraeger and Claude Maahs) and Fern (Ken
Gullickson and Bud Villand).
Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. at Peace
Lutheran Church, Tilleda, with burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call on Monday from 4-8 p.m. at the Beil-Didier Funeral
Home, Marion, and on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of service at the
church.
Online condolences may be sent via www.beil-didier.com.
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