Shirley M. Lipsky

Shirley Lipsky passed away peacefully on March 28th, 2023, with family at her side after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born February 2nd,1936 on a dairy farm in Eastern Wisconsin and raised by her parents Sylvester and Agnes (Martin) Dworak with three brothers. Shirley attended Lynch elementary and Demark High School. She followed her desire to become a teacher by attending Door Kewaunee Teachers College in Algoma, WI where she met James Lipsky who would become her loving husband for 64 years. She taught at Cherneyville, a one room school, and Langes Corners State school near Denmark, WI. She earned her B.S. in Education at UW Oshkosh while raising their children Kevin, Michelle, and Stuart. They moved to Athens, OH where she developed a special reading program and participated in writing important Federal grants benefiting the school system. In 1968, they moved to River Falls, WI. She earned a master’s degree in education at UW River Falls and continued her teaching career as a second-grade teacher at Westside Elementary until her retirement in 1997. Shirley was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and an officer of the St. Croix Reading Council. She enjoyed advising students with Jim as part of the UW Newman club. Soon after retirement, they moved to the Green Bay area. Shirley valued family and faith and treasured her involvement with the Serra club. She always greeted everyday with endless energy, loved connecting with people and became an inspiration to many. Traveling, genealogy, scrapbooking, quilting, and cooking beautiful meals along with planning gatherings were her favorite hobbies. She and Jim enjoyed cheering on the Brewers and the Packers along with any family sporting events. Shirley was always willing to help others and support charities. She was a loving, supportive, and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. We are grateful for everything she has done for us. She will be deeply missed.

Thank you to all the caring health professionals involved in her health journey. Additional thanks for the support of family, friends and the neighbors from Nicolet Landing Association. Shirley is preceded in death by her husband James Lipsky and her parents Sylvester and Agnes Dworak. Also preceded by Shirley's brothers Robert, Lee (Joanne) and Gary Dworak and in law brothers Nick, Robert, Donald, Michael (Phylis) and sisters Marie (Leon) Gillis, Patricia (Donald) Schillin. Shirley is survived by her sons Kevin, Stuart and daughter Michelle (Jack) O'Connor and grandson Tyler (Lisa) Oconnor, great grandsons Jack and Charles, grandson Callan O’Connor.. She is survived also by her in-laws Delores (Robert) Dworak, Helen (Wayne) Reisner, Nancy (Bob) Bierke and Dale Lipsky.

Family and friends may visit Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at St. Mary Catholic Parish, 4805 Sportsman Drive, De Pere, WI 54115. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating.

Burial will be at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Kewaunee.