Shirley Kleven

Stoughton- Shirley A. Kleven passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at Azura Memory Care Center in Stoughton.

She was born on February 26, 1937 to Robert and Arlette (Moe) Franklin at the family farmhouse in Evansville, WI.

Shirley attended Evansville High School, where she was a proud cheerleader, and graduated with honors in 1955.

After graduation, Shirley moved to Stoughton where she worked for the dental practices of Dr. Kerpeny and Dr. Smedal.

Shirley married the love of her life Roger Kleven, on May 8, 1965 in Rockford, IL.  They lived many places prior to building their family home in Stoughton in 1967.  Shirley’s greatest love was her family, and she raised her and Roger’s four children as a devoted homemaker.

Shirley was an active member of First Lutheran Church.  She had a love for animals and a compassion for them beyond measure.  Shirley enjoyed music, doing crossword puzzles, and was a master at Wheel of Fortune, and enjoyed many other television programs.  She also enjoyed collecting glassware, and she grew quite a collection that she was proud of.  Shirley loved the holidays, when she could decorate, cook, bake, and shop for her family.  Although Shirley spent a lot of time in the home that she loved, she enjoyed travel.  Her and Roger were able to venture many places together, including London, England and Hawaii.  Shirley’s favorite place to be aside from home was the family cabin in Eagle River, WI.  She enjoyed taking care of her granddaughters, and loved attending their events and activities.  Shirley made fast friends with everyone she met due to her warm personality and zest for life.  If you were blessed to know Shirley, you loved her because she had a way of drawing you in, and making you happy with her infectious smile.

Shirley is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, Roger; children, Sherry Simon, Dale Kleven, Bobbi Vosberg, and Micki (Dave) Lunde; granddaughters, Maddy and Emmy Lunde; brother, Robert (Brigitt) Franklin; brother-in-law, Arnold (Paulette) Kleven; and several nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Sanford and Margaret Kleven; and daughter-in-law, Michell Kleven.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington Street, Stoughton, with Rev. Bill Lehman officiating.  Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon immediately following in the church fellowship hall.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, December 3, 2021 at Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, and from 10:00 AM until the time of services Saturday at church.  Memorials may be made to a local animal rescue organization or humane society, Agrace HospiceCare Inc., First Lutheran Church, or to the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of WI (ADAW).

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Azura Memory Care Center and Agrace HospiceCare.  Your exceptional care and compassion for Shirley and her family will never be forgotten.  We will all miss her laugh, sharp wit, and sense of humor.  Her smile and love for us made the world a better place to be.

“I walk not away or lie down below

But will live in your heart as you grow

Closer to me every day

Until in Heaven with me you’ll stay.”

Please share your memories of Shirley by posting on her Tribute Wall at: www.CressFuneralService.com.

Cress Funeral Service

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244