Shirley Mavis TerWisscha

 

Shirley M. TerWisscha, age 89, of Willmar, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 17, at Compassionate Cottage in Willmar.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, at the Living Hope - Evangelical Free Church in Willmar.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 20, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Shirley's life may be directed to CentraCare Hospice or Hope Pregnancy Center in Willmar.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

 

Shirley Mavis TerWisscha was born on January 19, 1934, on a farm between Raymond and Prinsburg, the daughter of Erwin and Jennie (Frikke) Schueler.  She grew up in Raymond and received her education in Willmar.  Shirley was united in marriage to John TerWisscha on January 24, 1952, at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church.  They made their home in the Willmar and Spicer communities and were blessed with five children.  Shirley worked hard as a homemaker and bookkeeper of John's new business, TerWisscha Construction.  She later worked as a bus driver for the Central Minnesota Christian School, and in retail at Thrifty White Drug, JoAnn Fabrics and Wallace's Clothing Store.  She was an active member at the E. Free Church (Living Hope) and volunteered on several church committees. She also worked alongside her husband with the Gideons and took numerous missions trips to Romania.   Shirley enjoyed sewing, baking and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  In June of 2023, Shirley moved into assisted living at Compassionate Cottage in Willmar.  Shirley's family gratefully acknowledges the exceptional compassion and care which all the staff provided to her.

 

She is survived by her five children, Deb TerWisscha of Willmar, Val (and Dean) Bonnema of Lincoln, NE., Cindi (and Forrest) VandenEinde of Springfield, MO., Kammy (and Keith) Nelson of Spicer and Kelly (and Sheri) TerWisscha of Spicer; twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John in 2018.