Beverly Shelley

Beverly Shelley

October 7, 2025

Beverly Jane Shelley passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Classics in Altoona. She was born December 9, 1932, in Mattoon, Wisconsin, to Arno and Lorena Mueller. After her father's death when she was three, her mother married Henry Gast, who lovingly raised her as his daughter. She graduated from Bowler High School and later worked at a bank in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Beverly married John Shelley on February 5, 1955, at the Lutheran parsonage in Bowler. They first met in grade school and later reconnected at a dance in 1953. They celebrated 63 wonderful years of marriage before his death in 2018.

Beverly was a devoted wife and wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family gatherings and events were of the utmost importance. She was a great cook and an excellent seamstress. As a family, they spent many summers camping and traveling. In later years they enjoyed golfing, summers in Holcombe, and winters in Arizona. She and John also enjoyed trips to Hawaii and Alaska. In the last two years, she traveled to Nashville and Holland, Michigan with her four daughters. She loved watching both the Badgers and Brewers and was an avid fan of the Mad Dog and Merrill Grilling Show. She was a kind and gentle soul who cherished the simple things in life. She was a longtime member of Altoona United Methodist Church.

Beverly is survived by four daughters, Kathleen Shelley, Linda (Jim) Martell, Cynthia (Brian) Neill, and Pamela (Jeff) Ploeger; grandchildren, Scott (Lami) Harsh, Mike (Erin) Harsh, Mackenzie Allemann, John (Casey) Martell, Joy (Brett) Hill, Brenton Martell (Alex Oxyer), Tanya (Kyle) Styczynski, Erin Ploeger (Josh Leake), and Justine Ploeger; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Arlene Kerstner, and a niece and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 17, 2025, at Altoona United Methodist Church, 428 1st Street West. Visitation will begin at 10:00 with the funeral to follow at 11:00. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery in Eau Claire. Friends and family are welcome to leave online condolences at www.smithfuneralec.com.