Shirley M. Panka

Shirley M. Panka, 74, of Prairie du Chien, died Thursday, June 14, at Crossing Rivers Health Systems, Prairie du Chien.

Shirley Marie was born Dec. 7, 1943, to Clifford and Bonnie (Harris) Cull in Boscobel. She attended school in Fennimore.

Shirley was united in marriage with Tom Panka on Feb. 11, 1964, at St. Lawrence O’Toole in Mt. Hope. Three children were born to this union. She worked as a radio dispatcher at the Prairie du Chien Police Dept. for twenty-five years, retiring in 1999 and was an EMT on the Prairie du Chien Rescue Squad. She was also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Shirley enjoyed fishing, gardening and genealogy. Her greatest joys were her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Tom Panka, of Prairie du Chien; children, Maria (Daniel) Titlbach, of Prairie du Chien, Tom Jr. Panka, of Prairie du Chien, and John Raymond Panka, of Prairie du Chien; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and her siblings, James Cull, of Prairie du Chien, Evelyn Olmstead, of Boscobel, Mary Olson, of Prairie du Chien, Joy Olson, of Prairie du Chien, Margaret Caufman, of Eastman, and Gloria Troester, of River Falls.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Bonnie Cull; and two brothers, Charles Cull and Raymond Cull.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, June 22, at St. John’s Church of the Holy Family Parish in Prairie du Chien, with Rev. James C. Weighner as the celebrant. There will be a one hour visitation before mass at the church on Friday. Burial will be at 1 p.m., on Friday, June 22, at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Eastman. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Prairie du Chien, is helping the family with arrangements.