Fifth Generation

81. Shirley A. SHIE was born on 6 November 1927 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶ She died on 27 April 2008 at the age of 80 in Verona, Dane County, WI.¹⁶

Obituary Notes: "Shirley A. Downs, age 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Meriter Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Nov. 6, 1927, at home in Tomah, WI, to Myron and Marie (Schmeider) Shie. Shirley graduated from Kendall High School in 1944 and went to work at Camp McCoy.

On Aug. 20, 1947, at Indian Creek Church in Oakdale, Shirley married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Downs of Tomah. In 1950 Joe graduated from WSU-Stout and was called back to active duty with the U.S. Navy. While Joe was serving one year in Japan, Shirley and new daughter JoAnn moved in with Shirley’s parents in Tomah. In 1951 Shirley and Joe moved their family of four to Mauston, where they resided for five years. In 1956 the Downs family of seven moved to Madison where Joe accepted a teaching position at Cherokee Junior High. Shirley worked for Cherokee School as a cook, Ben Franklin variety store, the State of Wisconsin, and over 22 years as secretary for Cherokee School before she and Joe retired in 1991. For 35 years, Joe and Shirley were mentors to all students and staff at Cherokee. They opened their hearts and home to numerous students at risk, instilling their educational and family values to everyone they worked with. Shirley and Joe were devoted parents, neighbors, friends, and parishioners. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Shirley is survived by her loving family: two daughters, JoAnn (Art) Sosa of Waukesha, Kathy (Rich) Henderson of Verona; two sons, Gregory (Margaret) of Shorewood and Mark (Nancy) of Belleville; nine grandchildren, AJ and Nicholas (fiancé Jessica) Sosa of Sun Prairie, Ian and Sara Henderson of Verona, Jennifer and Gregory Jr. of Shorewood, and Branden, Courtney, Melissa Downs of Belleville; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Shirley is further survived by siblings Jean (David) Breitzman of Tomah; John (Barbara) Shie of Holiday Island, AR; sister-in-laws, Betty (Jim-deceased) Downs of Marinette and Pat (Tom-deceased) Shanley of Boynton Beach, FL, and John Downs of Chicago, IL. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister Joann, her husband Joseph, and a son Jeffrey Downs.

Visitation was Wednesday, April 30, from 4 until the 7:30 p.m. rosary service at Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home, 118 N. Franklin St. in Verona. A Mass of Christian Burial was conducted at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 1, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona, with Father Dave Timmerman officiating. Burial was in Verona followed by a luncheon at the parish center."

Shirley A. SHIE and Joseph "Joe" DOWNS were married on 20 August 1947 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶ at the Indian Creek Church. Joseph "Joe" DOWNS died before April 2008.¹⁴

Shirley A. SHIE and Joseph "Joe" DOWNS had the following children: