Beloved wife of Charles Ettner (Deceased), loving mother of Michael (Cassandra) Ettner of Delavan, Wisconsin and Susan Mennenga of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Proud grandmother of Christopher Ettner, Ryan Ettner, Jennifer (Timothy) Klingbiel, Kristina (Alex) Martini, Samuel Mennenga, and Lauren ( Dan) Schewe. Great-grandmother of 6 children.
Shirley, was a graduate of Morton High School, Class of 1952, Cicero, Illinois. A local (Chicago Area) beauty queen at the age of 19 holding such titles as “Queen of Hotpointers” as crowned by the Hotpoint Corporation. Shirley competed amongst 1,100 other contestants to win the Hotpoint title. She took her mother along for the two week all-expense paid trip to Havana, Cuba as part of the title prize. By age 21 Shirley also competed and won the Ms. Kemper Insurance and Ms. Mutual Casualty Insurance beauty contests. Shirley enjoyed a brief career flying with TWA as a stewardess catering to many famous people including Hollywood celebrities such as Raymond Burr (a/k/a Perry Mason). After her brief career with the airlines, Shirley met Charles while visiting her mother at her mother’s place of employment (Lincoln Federal Savings & Loan). Soon after, they were married and settled down in Oak Brook, Illinois to start a family. Shirley can best be remembered for her love for entertaining and celebrating the holidays with her family.
Shirley was an avid fisherman and loved to fish no matter the weather conditions. Shirley caught a 9 foot 11 inch sailfish in Acapulco, Mexico on vacation and wanted it mounted so she could have it at home. After 12 months of waiting for the fish to arrive, it didn’t fit in any of the rooms in the house. Later it was donated to a local tavern. Shirley took Mike to Canada fishing twice for some real fishing experiences and shore lunches. Being the only woman at these remote fishing camps never bothered her.
Shirley enjoyed watching Mike play sports especially football whether it was at practice or in real games. Shirley followed the Chicago Bears no matter what kind of season they were having. Shirley was known as “Troop leader” by her grandchildren whom she adored. Shirley loved shopping for clothes and was constantly on the lookout for bargains or not! Dad always said about mom’s clothes shopping that “it isn’t the initial expense it’s the long term maintenance”.
She is preceded in death by her husband Charles, parents Edna Camille (Stepka) Nemec and Edward Kubik , grandparents Edward & Emilie (Burda) Stepka. Shirley is survived by her Sister Barbara (Kubik) and Brother In-law Ralph Rogus.
No visitation services are planned. Shirley will be laid to rest by her husband Charles and mother Edna at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 7750 West Cermak, Forest Park, Illinois 60130
In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley Ettner’s name to Illinois Humane Society is much appreciated.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnchicago.com for the Ettner family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17