Shirley Yvonne Marie Rupple
Shirley Yvonne Marie Rupple, died gracefully at home surrounded by her daughters on August 24, 2022. Shirley was born April 3, 1936, in Wolf Point, Montana to Curtis Peterson and Hattie (Giese) Peterson. She graduated from North Dakota State University (Fargo) and finished her residency as a Dietician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in 1960. She met James (Jim) Rupple on a blind date and they married on October 1, 1960. They were married by Pastor Kurz at Saint James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. They settled in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1961. Shirley worked as a Dietician with St. Agnes Hospital before her daughters, Jayne and Nancy, were born. After giving birth, Shirley shifted her focus to family, volunteer work, service organizations, and new experiences.
Shirley had an adventurous spirit and fearless determination to learn new things. Growing up as an only child in rural North Dakota she drove grain trucks at age 11, worked in the fields, helped tend cattle and horses, raced stock cars as a teenager (and won often), and played tenor saxophone in the high school band. She also learned how to grow her own food, preserve and prepare it. Shirley respected the land and the Native Americans that preceded her family to the area. Her father, Curt, was the first white man adopted into a local tribe.
In Fond du Lac, Shirley’s curiosity and thrill-seeking light shined bright as she pursued her pilot’s license and racked-up numerous speeding tickets with her lead foot that refused to retire. She volunteered with several groups including Hospice, Mobile Meals, St. Agnes Auxiliary, Service League, and others. Shirley served as President and Board Member for many years with Altrusa, a professional women’s organization. She was also a beloved PEO sister (BD chapter).
Shirley loved to travel and shop around the world. She enjoyed summers on Madeline Island, WI and winters in Naples, FL. She had friends everywhere and had fun playing Mahjong, Pinochle, and many, many other card games. Shirley was the Mom of all Moms. She tirelessly cared for her own girls, Jayne and Nancy, as well as other young women that called her their second Mom or ‘other Mother.’ Love to all of them.
Heartfelt gratitude to Jenny Triatik and her team for the comforting support for Shirley during the last few months and to Candace Michaels, special friend of the family. They are indeed earthly angels.
Shirley will be remembered for her courage, strength, mischievous escapades, get-it-done attitude, and generous spirit. She was proceeded in death by her parents Curtis and Hattie Peterson and husband, Dr. James H Rupple. She is survived by her daughters – Jayne (Jim) Lauby, Nancy (Brett) Pautsch; grandsons – Parker Johnson, Ross Johnson, Jimmy Pautsch; step granddaughter – Jenny Maveety; step great-grandsons – Silas Maveety and Rowan Lauby-Ledin; and cousins-like-siblings LaRaye O’Brien and Jerry O’Brien.
Visitation will be from 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept 8, 2022, at Zacherl Funeral Home located at 875 E Division St, Fond du Lac, WI 54935. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, at Ascension Lutheran Church located at 901 County Rd V, Fond du Lac, WI 54935.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fond du Lac Foundation where a scholarship fund is being established in honor of Jim and Shirley Rupple family, or to Ascension Lutheran Church for their community emergency/crisis fund, or the charity of your choice.