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1926 - 2014
ELGIN - Former civic leader, newspaper woman and U-46 School Board member, Shirley Mae Westerbeck Rauschenberger, 88, died in Elgin, Il. on December 15, 2014. She was born December 1, 1926 in Elgin, daughter of Felix and Amanda Idstein Westerbeck. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John K. Rauschenberger in 1999, and her brother Sheldon Westerbeck in 2000. She is survived by two daughters, Laurel Kracen (Don Getts) Tucson, AZ. and Carol Rauschenberger (Reid Travis) Elgin; as well as four sons, John K. Rauschenberger Jr., Chicago; Thomas Rauschenberger; Steven Rauschenberger (Betty) ; Keith Rauschenberger (Cindy) all of Elgin. She was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren: Amanda Kracen, Elizabeth Kracen, Melissa Rauschenberger, John. Rauschenberger III, Emilee Rauschenberger, Joe Rauschenberger, Zoe Travis, Bopha Travis, Sam Rauschenberger, Michael Rauschenberger, Henry Rauschenberger, Kacy Rauschenberger, Karl Rauschenberger and 12 great-grandchildren. Shirley also was very important to extended family members Scott Kracen and Dawn Marcom. Graduating from Elgin High School during WWII, Shirley's first job was with the Chicago Daily News as a copy "girl." It was the only time she lived away from Elgin. After her "beau" John was discharged from Army service overseas, she returned to to her hometown where they married in 1946. Children soon followed. As a mother of six, Shirley was a firm believer in volunteer service to enhance her community. Her interests were broad and her leadership skills were welcomed; she served on boards of the YWCA, YMCA, Episcopal Churchwomen, Boy Scouts, Sybaquay Council of the Girls Scouts, the Salvation Army, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. One of the founders of The Open Door Clinic, Shirley was elected to the U-46 school board where she served for 12 years. In addition, she was a strong support to her husband in Rauschenberger Furniture, the family business, and a great backer of all of her children's sports and activities. She was also a foster parent, a scout leader, an election judge. Shirley was a precinct committeewoman, ran for the state legislature as well as the county board,and she remained passionately dedicated to the causes she believed to the end of her life. Shirley was accorded many community honors over the years; she received the Cosmopolitan Distinguished Service Award, the Altrusa Woman of the Year Award; she was honored by the Illinois State Office of Public Instruction as the outstanding parent of the region, and was honored in 2008 by the Elgin Township Republicans for her leadership and longstanding political activism. As her children grew independent, Shirley resumed her career. She began doing advertising and marketing for Chuck Hines Store for Men, advanced to Spiess Department Store, later was an officer at Ackemann's Furniture Store. Returning to newspaper work, Shirley was also one of the first editors of the Elgin Free Press, which became the Elgin Herald. After retiring, she remained active in political campaigns, especially her son Steve's campaigns for State Senate. She was known for her love of cooking, entertaining and hospitality. Shirley (Ahya) was the beloved matriarch of her family, and took great pride in the activities, travels and diversity of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be long remembered. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (www.girlscoutsni.org/give), Boys Scouts Three Fires Council (www.threefirescouncil.org), or St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, for the Relics group, whose outreach projects Shirley was very involved in during the last years of her life. Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 9:00 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. in the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin. Services and burial will be private. For information 847-741-8800 or www.lairdfamilyfuneralservices.com.
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4 Entries
Laurie Hamilton Puglisi
January 21, 2015
What a truly amazing woman. I have always been inspired by my Aunt Shirley. My sympathy goes out to my cousins for their loss.
Terri Westerbeck Cortez
December 18, 2014
I was so sorry to learn of Shirley's death. Both John & Shirley were life long friends of our parents & the Rauschenbergers all played a big part of our childhood. Just a few of the many memories I have of Shirley include her famous recipes, many of which I have passed down to my own daughters,time spent at the Lake House in Wisconsin & even watching Elvis at their house one Sunday night after dinner when he appeared on Ed Sullivan! I remember everyone being scandalized by the wiggling hips. Shirley was just a classy, intelligent, & kind lady. She will be greatly missed by everyone. My heart goes out to all the Rauschenberger extended family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Sund Kmiec
Debbie Sund Kmiec
December 18, 2014
RIP Shirley.
Marty Corcoran
December 17, 2014
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