Shirley J. Peterson

Shirley J. (Pearson) Peterson

June 12, 1929 - May 23, 2022

HILLSBORO - Shirley J. (Pearson) Peterson, age 92, of Hillsboro, WI, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Milestone Senior Living with her family by her side.

She was born on June 12, 1929 (her mother's 33rd birthday), on a farm in Winfield Township, Sauk County, WI, to Vera Mae Leake Greenwood and Robert Q. Greenwood. Robert died on February 20, 1929. Her mother could not keep the farm, so they moved into Reedsburg to a house on West Main Street. They lived in several houses in Reedsburg. Shirley started school in the old South School. Her mother remarried when Shirley was 14 to a wonderful man, Frank Leatherberry of rural Hillsboro. After their marriage she went to live with them at his farm. She went to high school in Hillsboro, graduating in 1947. On April 4, 1947, she married Archie "Doc" P. Pearson in Dubuque, IA. After graduation, they went to live on the Pearson farm. They were blessed with five children, John (Janis) Pearson, Nancy (Michael) Cohen, Susan (Douglas) Hahn, Janet (Michael) Grman, and Jean (Ronald) Schneller.

Shirley was a member of the Ironton-LaValle Faith United Methodist Church, LaValle American Legion Auxiliary, a birthday group, and the Red Hats fun group. Remember, it's 5 o'clock somewhere.

During the early years of their marriage, she was a stay at home mom, and bookkeeper for Pearson Forest Products. In July of 1961, she started working for Bernard Dee Insurance. After "Doc" died on January 26, 1982, Shirley was asked to work at the State Bank of Cazenovia, which she did for 34-years under Benny and Danny Dee, great bosses. She retired when she married Helmer L. Peterson on October 21, 1995. They did a lot of traveling going to Arizona or Florida in the winter, Alaska, Ireland, France, Hawaii, and on several cruises. Helmer preceded her in death on December 6, 2020.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; step-dad, Frank Leatherberry; nine siblings and their spouses, brothers: Lyle and Bonnie Greenwood, Kenneth and Elsie Greenwood, Virgil and Josephine Greenwood, George and Juanita Greenwood, Russell and Donna Greenwood, and Aurrin Greenwood; sisters: Doris and Edgar Furhman, Dorothy and Robert Thayer, and Audrey and Donald "Pat" Pearson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Ruth and Gale Krug, Percy and Mida Pearson, and Marvin Korth; grandson, Paul Schneller; granddaughter, Jane Pearson; along with other relatives and friends.

She is survived by her five children; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; her husband Helmer's six children and spouses; 27 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Shirley will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 27, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Reedsburg with Pastor Vicki Brantmeyer officiating. Burial will be made in the Resting Green Cemetery in Ironton. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the Farber Funeral Home, and on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.

Shirley would prefer memorials be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.