Full Obituary

SHIRLEY ANN HUMKE (nee Braun), age 90, passed away in her sleep in the early morning of Thursday, September 26, 2013 at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, WI. She was born on May 1, 1923, the oldest child of Emma and Theodore Braun, in the Town of Warner, Clark County, WI.
Shirley attended Greenwood High School, graduating in 1941 and went on to earn her cosmetology license from the Eau Claire School of Cosmetology in 1942. For the next forty years, Shirley owned and ran her own business, Perma Wave Beauty Shop, on Main Street in Greenwood. She married her high school sweetheart, Irvin G. Humke on February 5, 1944. In the same year they welcomed their son, Dennis. While raising a family and running a business, she and Irvin spent time with their friends dancing, traveling to Rural Mail Carrier conventions, yearly fishing trips to northern Wisconsin, and attending their grandchildren's school events. Shirley was a loving grandma to five grandchildren: Michael (Lisa) Humke of Dodgeville, WI, Michelle (Andrew) Bussen of Waunakee, WI, Jennifer (Matthew) Berge of Valders, WI, Heather (Daniel) Humphrey of Madison, WI, and Rachel (Benjamin) Topercer of Edwardsville, IL. She also enjoyed the antics of her seven great-grandchildren: Brianna Humke, Ryan Bussen, Caroline and Otis Berge, Reese Humphrey, and Joshua and Avery Topercer. Shirley was happiest when the house was filled with the noise and laughter of children.
Shirley was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Some of our best memories include - long walks looking for Spring flowers, celebrating their Golden Anniversary with a large party, trips to Donnie Deckers, leaf houses, playing in the attic, playing Legos and salt at the table, Saturday morning cartoons on the pull out couch with Eggo's for breakfast, her home-made Barbie clothes, playing in the toy box, sitting 'quietly' at the beauty shop, Greenwood bakery hard rolls, back rubs and reading us books before bed, 7-up floats, climbing the apple tree, rolling down the hill in the back yard, her vegetable soup, many vacations throughout the United States, her cut-out cookies, letting us help cook whenever given the chance, dressing up in old formals (even Mike), trying on all the jewelry from her many treasure boxes, tea parties, card games, and many others. We were blessed to have her in our lives.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 69 years, Irvin; their son, Dennis (Millie) Humke; her sister and brother-in-law, June (Jack) Wittwer; sister-in-law Pat Braun; brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Paul (Rose Caryl) Humke; brother-in-law: Glen Horn; five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. There are also many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Allan Braun.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2013, at 1pm at Immanuel United Church of Christ, rural Greenwood. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to service. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the American Legion, in Greenwood, to honor Shirley.
The family would like to extend their thanks for the care provided to Shirley at Ministry Healthcare in Marshfield, WI and the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, WI. Their loving attention was greatly appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immanuel United Church of Christ or Alzheimer's Association-Greater Wisconsin Chapter in Shirley's name.