Shirley Yelvington Neubauer

Shirley Yelvington Neubauer, a longtime resident of Grafton, Wis., died at Sheboygan Health Services in Sheboygan on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at the age of 96.

Born Jan. 1, 1928, to Harry and Hildegard Yelvington, she was baptized into Christ and confirmed at Siloah Lutheran Church.

Shirley was raised in Milwaukee and graduated from Rufus King High School in 1946.

She married Howard Neubauer on Oct. 1, 1949, and they were blessed with 66 happy years. Together they enjoyed family vacations to Three Lakes and Daytona Beach, trips with friends, their two “clubs” with school classmates, dancing, golfing and laughing.

Shirley worked for more than 16 years as the secretary of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School.

Shirley was an active member for more than 50 years at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton, participating in the Women’s Guild, mixed choir, handbells, PTL and Board of Parish Education. She and Howard made lifelong friends in their bible study group. For many years, she sang with The Lutheran A Cappella Choir in Milwaukee. She shared her faith with many, believed in the power of prayer and was a champion of Lutheran education.

She is survived by her daughter Wendy and her husband the Rev. Alan Kretschmar of Sheboygan and her son the Rev. Jim Neubauer and his wife Kim of Park Rapids, Minn.; grandchildren Laurie and Nate Dillman, Rachael and John Franklin and Daniel, Jillian, Matthew and Sophia Neubauer; and great-grandchildren Herschel, Greenlee and Myron Dillman and Julius Franklin.

She was preceded in death by daughter Nancy Jo Neubauer and husband Howard Neubauer.

Funeral services for Shirley took place at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 Washington St., Grafton, WI 53024. The Rev. Luke Anderson officiated. Family and friends were welcome at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the service.

Interment took place in Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee.

A memorial fund has been established in her name for St. Paul Lutheran School in Grafton.

     The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Sheboygan Health Services and the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for all of their loving care and support.

Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Shirley’s arrangements.