Shirley VanDerLeest

Shirley A. (Brusky) VanDerLeest, 87 passed away on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at her home with her family by her side.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam and Monsignor Joseph Diermeier presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the village of Stratford. The visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Sauter / Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford and from 9 a.m. 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 on Oct. 25, 1934. The family later moved to Halder. 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 Sept. 29, 1956, at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Halder, and they were married 52 years at the time of Marvin’s death on Oct. 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 four 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 four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Surviving are her daughters: Diane (Keith) Borchardt and Judy (Don “Bucky”) Budtke; four grandchildren: Matthew (Tammy) Borchardt, Katie (Derrick) Schillinger, Tyler (Desi) Budtke and Dylan (Taylor) Budtke; and four great-grandchildren: Mason, Adalynn, Shelby Borchardt and Lia Schillinger. Shirley is also survived by brothers: Harold of King, Richard of Ohio, Robert of Ariz., Raymond (Darlene) of Mosinee, John of Mosinee and Howard (Marlene) of Weston; and a sister, Carol (Albert) Miller of Colby. She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin; a greatgrandson, 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.

Paid obituary 113151