Shirley Mae Julseth

Shirley Mae Julseth, April 25, 2023

Shirley Mae (née Noyce) Julseth was born to Irene and Francis Harvey Noyce on March 9, 1934 in Madison, Wisc. She married Bruce Allan Julseth on June 22, 1957, and they lived in Oregon and Evansville, Wisc., on the Julseth farm in Cooksville, Wisc., Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Cary, N.C., Woodstock, Ga., and Pittsburgh, Pa. In retirement, they traveled extensively, visiting every U.S. state as well as cousins in Norway.

Shirley worked at a laundry and at Parker Pen as a young adult and later devoted herself to homemaking and raising her children. Highly creative and industrious, she inherited her baking prowess from her mother (the mother-daughter duo was known to bake 10 pies and several batches of cookies in one day when they’d get together) and her building and sewing ingenuity from her father (he himself had made her a quilt, lamps and playful wooden treasures).

Her able hands crafted furniture, elaborate and amusing birthday cakes, dinners for 60, dozens of afghans and other crocheted marvels. Her gardens bursted with life.

She was a serious bowler, having competed at the Nationals level. Her grandchildren recall spending summers at Grandma’s Bowling Camp, which included, of course, custom-made trophies. She loved animals, and her cats especially gave her great joy.

She will be dearly missed and is survived by her husband, Bruce, son, Marc, daughter, Erica, beloved grandchildren Simon, Ted, Joseph, Justin and Jonathan, as well as great grandchildren Willa Grey, Kadence, Carter, Hayes and Ellis. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on April 29 at Juniper Village at Forest Hills and on May 13 at 2 p.m., family and friends will gather at Gunderson Funeral Home in Oregon, Wisc., to celebrate her life, followed by a graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Animal Friends or other animal shelters.

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