Obituaries & Guestbook

Shirley Welsch-Mertes, age 86, was called to eternal life on April 8, 2025, at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer.
Shirley was born on March 12, 1939, to Willard and Clara (Clevers) Beeck. She attended local schools and graduated from Oostburg High School with the class of 1956.
On September 27, 1958, she was united in marriage to Donald Welsch. Donald passed away on May 29,1999.
On October 6, 2007, she was united in marriage to Aaron Mertes.
Shirley was the bookkeeper for Welsch’s Sales & Service for over 38 years. She was a member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. Shirley enjoyed playing cribbage and cards, quilting, sewing and tending to her beautiful flowers in her back yard, with her favorite flower being pansies. Over the years, she enjoyed spending time at the cottage on Wilke Lake and fishing on Rollingstone Lake in Pearson, WI and spending 6 months of the year in Tucson, AZ.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Aaron and her children, Wendy (Tom) Hauch, Robert (Lisa) Welsch, Tammy (Bryan) Wield, all of Sheboygan, and Peggy (Dan) Goosen of Chippewa Falls. Shirley is also survived by her step-children, Tim (Judy) Mertes, Tammy (Jeremy) Boldt and Tonya (Dan) DuMez. Numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren also survive along with her beloved dog, Daisy Mae.
Shirley is also survived by her siblings, Glorian Ehrman, Ronald Beeck, Judy (Jim) Krolnik, Rosie (Dave) Baranczyk, Donald (Andrea) Beeck and Mary (Jerry) Miller. She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Clara Beeck; her husband Donald Welsch; her grandchildren, Amber Welsch and Travis Hauch; her siblings, Harold (Leona Weiman) Beeck, Fred (Juanita) Beeck, Bernice (James) Gruenke, Alvera Beeck and Theresa Beeck. She was also preceded in death by brother and sisters-in-law, George Ehrman, Jeanne Beeck, Rodney Heling, Larry Welsch, Ginnie (Waldemar) Markworth and Pat (Robert) Horness.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, located at 1535 S. 12th Street in Sheboygan. Relatives and friends may gather at the funeral home from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm, with the service to follow at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Shirley loved all flowers, so please feel free to wear floral apparel.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.
The family would like to thank the caring and compassionate staff at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice. They would also like to thank Dr. Steven Bettag and staff for their care and also to her very helpful neighbors, Judy, Wendy and Sarah.