Shirley M. Henkes
Shirley Mae Henkes, 94, of Luana, formerly of Farmersburg, passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home in Strawberry Point. 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 and 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 in the fall of 2009 following the death of Calvin on Feb. 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, Ill., 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; 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; and great-grandson Denley Delagardelle.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Gooding Cemetery, area fire departments or a charity of your choice.
A Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg. There will also be a one-hour visitation before services at the church on Wednesday.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg, with Vicar Jeremy Wolfe as the officiant.
Interment will follow at Gooding Cemetery, rural Farmersburg.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is assisting the family with arrangements.
