Shirley M. Stevens

Shirley M. Stevens, Appleton, WI, former Town of Grand elected official, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2023.

Shirley was the second child of Herbert and Lonetta Ziegler (Zirkel). She graduated from Appleton West High School in 1948, and married John R Stevens on Oct 30, of that year. She was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Appleton. Together, Shirley and John had five children; Susan Moses, Mark Stevens (Laurie), Mary Newman, Peter Stevens (Valentina) and William Stevens (Michelle).

Shirley obtained her real estate broker’s license and subsequently was elected and served as the Assessor for the Town of Grand Chute from 1977-1994 during which time she shared her days with her assistant and dear friend, the late Jan Anderson.  She also served three terms as a member of the Outagamie County Board of Supervisors. Shirley attended and hosted numerous Bible studies and loved in depth and provocative conversations based on scripture. Her genealogy research led to her receiving the Wisconsin State Pioneer Family Descendant Certificate and to countless genealogy research sites domestically and abroad in exploration of her German and European ancestral heritage. 

In addition, she was an avid bridge player, and welcomed partners in sheepshead any time, any place. Over the years, she enjoyed her many friends in the Appleton YMCA Menettes-Chalice Circle of Kings Daughter and the Appleton Women’s Club. 

Shirley enjoyed traveling domestically and abroad, always making new friends and memories with each trip. She was well known for her amazing sense of humor, which gained her much popularity on social media and landed her cameo roles in front of the camera in several independently produced feature films and on German television. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Mark, her son Peter, great-granddaughter Elizabeth, her sister Jean Yandre, brother-in-law, Bob Yandre, brother Merle and sister-in-law Karleen Ziegler and brother David. 

She is survived by eleven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends who she embraced as part of her family.

The family wish to thank the staff at St Paul’s Elder Services in Kaukauna, WI who gave Shirley the most amazing and thoughtful care. 

A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held on October 7th, 2023, at Prairie Hill Park, located at 2901 N. Abendroth Street in Grand Chute (Appleton address).  Friends are welcome to gather beginning at 11:00 AM. At noon there will be a picnic lunch (kindly BYO) and a dessert buffet since Shirley loved desserts so much.  There will also be a sharing of memories during this time.  At 1:45 PM a memorial bench honoring Shirley will be unveiled at the park dock, and at 3:00 PM the day will conclude with a graveside gathering and floral placement at Highland Memorial Park.  RSVP or questions email celebration107@gmail.com.