Shirley M. Stevens

Shirley M. Stevens, of Appleton and 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 October 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 until 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 Daughters, 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 Home in Kaukauna who gave Shirley the most amazing and thoughtful care.

The Christian Funeral Service for Shirley will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, August 28, 2023, at Wichman Funeral Home, located at 537 N. Superior Street in Appleton.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:00 AM until the time of the service.  Shirley will be placed at rest in Highland Memorial Park in a private service.

A memorial fund as been established to honor her memory.