Shirley Jean Van Keuren

Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at the Runge Mortuary with a luncheon to follow.

She graduated from Belleville Township High school June 1952, at 15 she was in an all-girl drum and bugle marching band playing the snare drum. Which she could still play at 86. Shirley met Carl at a community dance, he was an airman from Wisconsin. He proposed on the second date, they were married on June 21, 1952. He was transferred 2 months later, and they corresponded by writing letters every day for 3 months. Shirley was then working for the Illinois Bell telephone company. She would soon follow him to Biloxi Mississippi. They would have their first daughter, Vicki in 1954. After leaving the Air Force, they moved to his city of Beloit, Wisconsin. She would work at a phone company there and take art classes at Rockford Illinois Community College and they had their second daughter, Debra in 1957.

Her next job was a receptionist until having their third daughter, Cheryl, in 1960. After Cheryl was born she worked at Freeman Shoe Company as a receptionist. While working there, she was offered a job at the new Sears store. She was a woman and teen fashion manager for 5 years. In the early 1960's, she bought the merchandise, set up her own advertisements and had style shows. She also wrote articles for the paper. At one point, she bought $6,000 worth of suede coats with mink collars, which alarmed the store manager. She was the first in town to have them, and knew they would sell. She sold every single one. She was the leading source of profit for the store. Carl was transferred in 1969 to Davenport, Iowa. She left her job at Sears and they bought a home in Bettendorf, after walking into the open house and buying it, where they have lived since. She fell in love with the area, taking advantage of local classes, working for Blackhawk Films and later Penney’s. In the 1980's she started two businesses out of her home, Shirley's Graphics and Nana's Attic. In the 1990's she took care of her grandson.

Shirley loved dancing with Carl, who she taught to dance, and would win a contest. She also loved vacations with her daughters and Carl in their 9 passenger station wagon, and several summer weekends at Wildwood Acres.

Shirley is survived by her 3 daughters, Vicki Boling, Debra St John and Cheryl Mooty, her sister Barbara Johnson, 8 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, 2 nieces and 1 nephew. She will be cremated and will remain with Carl and the Arsenal Cemetery.

"My prayers for you all are that you have good health, safety and a good and happy life. May you always feel the sun on your face and the soft breeze in your hair. Then think of me for I will always be with you there, I love you all, forever and always".