Obituaries & Guestbook

Shirley M. Ward, age 73, of Sheboygan, joined her heavenly father on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice. She was born in Sheboygan on July 14, 1947, the daughter of the late Alois Mertzig and Leah (Jones) Ward.
She attended local schools in the Sheboygan area. On August 23, 1969 she married the love of her life, Lester A. Broeckel. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1987.

Shirley was employed at Mirro Foley Company in Chilton for many years. In 1989 she acquired her CNA degree from Fox Valley Technical College, which later led her to provide private healthcare for the elderly. Caring for other people was her passion, and she made many friendships along the way. She enjoyed playing cards with “the other Shirley”, going out to eat, thrift shopping, going to rummage sales, feeding and watching the birds in her backyard, and maintaining her flower gardens. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She was the best Gram-Gram, G-ma, and Grammie to Logan, Grant, and Roman, always attending piano recitals, musicals, sporting events, and school functions. She will be missed dearly by her family and friends.
Survivors include her two daughters, Lisa Manz, of Kiel and her children, Logan and Grant Manz; Tina (fiancée Matthew Willis) Setzer, of Sheboygan and her son, Roman Gottsacker; seven siblings, Michael (Wanda) Wright, of Idaho, Judy Mitchell, of Port Washington, Terry (Cindy) Mertzig, of Sheboygan, Tanny (Laura) Mertzig, of Sheboygan Falls, Ricky Ward, of Albuquerque, NM, Darlene (Angelo) Montour, of Albuquerque, NM, and George (fiancée Amy Wilson) Ward, of Sheboygan; Craig Manz, of Kiel (father of Logan and Grant), and Nathan Gottsacker, of Sheboygan (father of Roman). She is further survived by aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother and sister, a sister, Catherine “Ninks” Batt, stepfather, Thomas Ward and a brother-in-law, Ronald “Mitch” Mitchell.
A visitation for Shirley will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th Street Sheboygan. A private family service will take place the following morning with an entombment being held at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Please practice social distancing and facial coverings are required at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Shirley’s name for the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice and Vince Lombardi Cancer Center.
A heartfelt thank you is extended to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice nursing staff, especially Dan for the compassion and care he gave Shirley. He “surely” was a blessing during a difficult time.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.reinboldfh.com