Shirley Dodson

MADISON - Shirley J. (Wheelihan) Dodson, age 87, of Madison, Wis., died on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, in Madison, Wis., after a long illness.

She was born on April 22, 1929 to John Alexander Nicholas and Ione Edna (DeWitt) Wheelihan in Detroit, Mich. As a youngster, Shirley excelled in school and athletics. She fulfilled her ambition to become a nurse by attending the University Of Michigan School Of Nursing where she earned a degree in Nursing. She worked as a nurse in Detroit where she met her future husband, Vernon, a physician.

Shirley loved nursing but also wanted a large family. Once she started having children she stayed home to raise them and played an active role supporting their school, musical and sports activities. When her children got older, Shirley went back to school, taking classes in subjects that interested her such as Psychology and Biochemistry.

Her family was her greatest joy. She loved hosting family gatherings. Her faith was an important part of her life; while she was able, she volunteered at Bethel Lutheran Church's Parish Shop. Her other interests included cooking and baking, crossword puzzles, baseball, reading, following the Green Bay Packers and Badger sports teams. She enjoyed traveling with Vernon but later when that proved difficult, her door was always open to welcome her children, grandchildren, relatives and friends as they traveled to visit her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Vernon, her sister, Jacqueline, and her parents. She is survived by their five children, Martha I. Dodson, Kathryn A. Levy (Jay Levy), Christine L. Dodson (Pieter Smeenk), John N. Dodson (Amy Anzia-Dodson), and Elizabeth M. Turner (Lance Turner); five grandchildren, Matthew N. Levy (Rosie Levy), Alexander J. Levy, Ian P. Smeenk, Nicolaas N. Smeenk, and Benjamin N. Dodson; and other cherished relatives and friends.

We would like to thank Capitol Lakes and its staff for the wonderful care that Shirley received, especially this year, during her illness.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on November 5 at Cress Funeral Home. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Those wishing to express their sympathy may do so with flowers or consider a contribution to Capitol Lakes Foundation.


Cress
Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
608-238-3434