Obituaries & Guestbook

Shirley Mae Lee, 85, a resident of Sheboygan, WI for many years, left this earth on January 23, 2023. Shirley lives on in her children, Robert (Maria) and Randal (Lisa), her two grandsons, Fr. Dimitrios Lee and Gregory Lee, and her three great grandsons, Sebastian, Andreas, and Leonidas. Her many nieces and nephews will remember her as a funny and sweet aunt who always sent cards in the mail.

Shirley was born on June 5, 1937 to the late Edward and Pauline Gunkel, and was raised in Iron Mountain, MI. She moved to Sheboygan in 1940 and graduated from Central High School in 1958. On June 14, 1958, she met the man of her dreams and married James Donald Lee for 61 exciting years of marriage.

Shirley realized her love of theatrics when she found her first job at the Stardust Outdoor Theatre. She went onto work at Wigwam, Kohler, Jumes Family Restaurant and finally Smilings restaurant. Her customers will always remember her warm smile and sharp wit.

Shirley was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and wife. She loved to go camping, fishing and spending hours in the woods. She always remembered one particularly snowy afternoon when she watched her two boys build a winter slide with their father in the backyard. A truly happy day for everyone. She spent hours watching them slide down the hill on their inner-tubes. Shirley was so proud of her boys and made sure they always loved and respected one another. Their strong brotherly bond lasts even to this day and is a testament to the good will that Shirley always evoked.

Shirley will be remembered as a kind and loving woman with an infectious laugh. She would always say, “LAUGHTER is the BEST medicine”. That laughter carried her through to the very end. It didn’t matter if you were family, friend, or stranger, Shirley shared her big heart with everyone. She embodied her love for God with a spirit of generosity, good cheer, and kindness to all.

May Her Memory be Eternal!

A viewing and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. Shirley’s grandson the Reverend Fr. Dimitrios James Lee will offer prayers for the soul of our beloved Shirley.