Remembering Shirlee
Shirlee Ewig
October 3, 1946 - November 26, 2024
Visitation & Celebration of Life
Plans for a celebration of life are forthcoming.
Obituary
Shirlee Gladys Ewig October 3, 1946 – November 26, 2024
Shirlee Ewig (nee Mahr) passed peacefully from this world on November 26, 2024. She was 78 years old and just one day short of her 59th wedding anniversary with husband Glenn.
She was the daughter of Harvey and Alice (Keske) Mahr, grew up on her family’s farm in Franklin, WI, and graduated in 1964 from Oak Creek High School. Like a scene out of the movie Grease, she met Glenn while cruising Wisconsin Avenue and was reportedly first attracted by his 1959 Corvette convertible.
Known as “Crazy Shirlee” she lived life to the fullest and brought great joy and laughter to all who knew her.
In the early 1970’s Shirlee and Glenn moved to Muskego where they raised three children. Shirlee worked part-time, first at Gerine’s clothes store in Hales Corners, then the hair salon in the Boston Store at Southridge Mall, and then another hair salon in Hales Corners. However, when her son’s junior varsity football games on Thursday afternoons conflicted with her work schedule, she asked for flexibility. When the boss offered none, she promptly quit. The incident reflected her commitment to attend nearly every one of her children’s football & baseball games, wrestling matches, concerts, ballet recitals, and pom-pon routines – a level of support also extended to her grandchildren.
Later she took a job at Muskego High School as a teacher’s aide in special education classes. The job fit her amazing capacity for empathy and caring, her affinity for the underdog, and her ability to find the best in everyone.
She cherished her group of neighborhood friends and had great fun performing with The Teflonettes.
Her love and support for her children and grandchildren was unconditional although rarely directive, with a common piece of Shirlee advice being “You gotta know what you want to do.” In her retirement she continued her interest in sports, rarely missing any televised Badgers, Bucks, Brewers, or Packers games.
Married to a Vietnam veteran spurred her longtime support for many veteran’s causes. She also spread great joy in recent years through nearly non-stop creation of colorful Christmas crafts.
She is survived by her beloved husband Glenn, daughter Sheryl (Jim) Hall; sons Brent (Samantha Biondo) and Matthew (Kris); sister Marilyn; sister-in-law Norma; brother-in-law Don (Carol); grandchildren Nolan, Lucia, Anna, Cecilia, and Benjamin; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by parents Harvey & Alice, sister Joan, brother Alfie, and brother-in-law Tom Spencer.
Plans for a celebration of life are forthcoming.
Memorials are welcome to Highground Veterans Park https://thehighgroundpark.givingfuel.com/general-donation-page or Wounded Warriors Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/