Shirley A. (Brusky) VanDerLeest, 87 passed away at her home with her family by her side on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam and Monsignor Joseph Diermeier officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the village of Stratford. The visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Wednesday at Sauter / Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford and from 9:00 am until service time on Thursday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
She was born the 9th out of 16 children to John and Angeline (Nenning) Brusky in Hewitt, WI on October 25, 1934. The family later moved to Halder, WI. Before her marriage Shirley worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital and then for Weinbrenner Shoe Factory, Marshfield. She was united in marriage to Marvin VanDerLeest on September 29, 1956 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Halder, WI, and they were married 52 years at the time of Marvin’s death on October 13, 2008.
The VanDerLeest’s bought a dairy farm near Stratford and farmed for 30 years. In 1992 they sold the farm and retired in rural Stratford. Shirley enjoyed quilting, sewing, playing cards and dominoes with her siblings. She also put together many puzzles and worked with her outdoor flowers. She was extremely fond of decorating for Christmas and her tree was always a beauty. She had a great love for the birds and squirrels, watching and feeding them. Her favorite time was spent with her grandchildren as they grew up and recently spending time seeing her 4 great grandchildren.
Shirley was about family. She kept close with her siblings even with a few of them off in other states. She loved all of them very much. When one was ill you could always count on her to be praying a rosary for them. She had a lot of nieces and nephews with being from the large family and cared for all of them deeply. She had great Love for her two daughters Diane and Judy and their spouses. The love she gave to her immediate family was very evident. She was blessed with 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Surviving are her daughters Diane (Keith) Borchardt, Judy (Don “Bucky”) Budtke, 4 grandchildren, Matthew (Tammy) Borchardt, Katie (Derrick) Schillinger, Tyler (Desi) Budtke, Dylan (Taylor) Budtke, and 4 great grandchildren, Mason, Adalynn, Shelby Borchardt, Lia Schillinger.
Shirley is also survived by brothers, Harold, King WI, Richard, Ohio, Robert, Arizona, Raymond (Darlene), Mosinee, John, Mosinee, Howard (Marlene) Weston, and a sister Carol (Albert) Miller, Colby. She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Marvin, a great grandson, Gabriel, brothers, Aloys, Clarence, Clem, William, Bernard (Infancy), and Kenneth, sisters, Mary Ann (Infancy), Ardele (Len) Osterbrink, and Patricia (Dean) Shirbroun.
Shirley’s big smile regardless how she was feeling will be greatly missed. She complained almost never regardless how much pain she was in or how rough things were. She loved our Lord deeply and prayer for everyone who needed a prayer.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.
