Shirley Mae Henkes

LUANA — Shirley Mae Henkes, 94 of Luana, formerly of Farmersburg,  passed away Saturday December 30, 2023 at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home in Strawberry Point, .

   A funeral service was held Wednesday, Jan 2 at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe officiating. Interment was in the Gooding Cemetery, rural Farmersburg.

   Shirley was born April 5, 1929 to Harvey and Meta (Sass) Sass in rural Monona. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Farmersburg and attended Gooding Country School.

   On April 10, 1946 Shirley was united in marriage with Calvin Harvey Henkes in Farmersburg. Eight daughters were born to this union. Together with Calvin, Shirley worked on the farm milking cows, raising pigs, chickens, sheep, and growing crops. Shirley stayed busy with the girls, attending family events, cooking, baking, sewing, and quilting. She loved being outdoors and found her greatest joy tending her garden until 90 years old. You could always find her in the kitchen, and she will be remembered for her refrigerator pickles, canned pears, and butternut squash she gifted to family and friends. Shirley moved to Luana, fall of 2009 following the death of Calvin on February 21, 2009. She was a faithful servant of St. John’s Farmersburg, attending many activities and enjoyed sewing with the ladies at Do-Days. Shirley was kind, loving, soft-spoken and enjoyed watching her family grow.

   Surviving Shirley are her five daughters, Deanna Wilcox Sandberg of Rockford, Illinois, Marsha Feickert of Marion, Sheryl (Steve) Kruse of Hiawatha, Janice (Rick) Johanningmeier of Monona and Jeanne (Paul) Miller of Fayette; Sons-in-law Dave Schrader of Clear Lake and Brian Meyer of Monona; 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; a sister Jeanette Wilker of Clermont and a sister-in-law, Glenda Henkes of Monona and several nieces and nephews.

   Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Meta Sass; husband Calvin Henkes; brother Donald Sass; daughters Connie Jurging, Carmen Schrader and Debbie Meyer; sons-in-law Bill Jurging and Lloyd Feickert; grandson-in-law Mike Bruene; great-grandson Denley Delagardelle.

   In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church, Gooding Cemetery, area fire departments or a charity of your choice.

   Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with arrangements.