Shirley Petzold

This amazing woman lived and enjoyed life to the fullest extent. More than that, she loved her family and her Lord, with all of her heart. She embraced and loved everyone she met and was always eager for a new adventure and to be where the party was. She took a special interest in the lives of her children and grandchildren and has had an impact on everyone she met. She had an innocence about her that made spending time with her memorable, always sending you off with a laugh or a smile.

Shirley (Bremer) Petzold was born on April 11, 1932 to the late Howard and Beatrice Bremer. She grew up in Reese, MI, with six other siblings. In 1952, she married Wallace Petzold of Millington, MI. They lived on a farm and raised eight children who were Shirley's pride and joy. She once wrote, "The most wonderful thing that has happened to me was giving birth to each one of my children. What joy filled my heart and arms."

Shirley spent time working at the hot lunch program at St. Paul Lutheran School where her children all attended school. She went on to driving school bus for a few years. To this day, she continues to have an impact on many of the kids that were on her bus route, She was deeply loved. After her children were out of the home, she went to work for her neighbors, the Burns Poultry Farm of Millington, gathering eggs. She was a great worker, and never thought of it as work, but as enjoyment.

Shirley also loved music. One of the happiest moments of her childhood was at the age of ten when she received an accordion. She later got a piano and enjoyed playing and singing. She sang in the Sweet Adeline's barbershop group, sang tenor in the church choir and spent many years with her beloved barbershop quartet, Four for the Lord. The Four for the Lord group traveled, performed and sang at every opportunity they could. She loved the Gospel of Jesus and enjoyed living it in her daily actions.

Shirley spent her winters in Florida, where she enjoyed all the activities in the park and even led exercise classes at the age of 80. During her summer times in Michigan, she would be seen riding her three wheeled bike around the community of Millington because she had places to go and she was not going to let not having a driver's license stop her.

On February 12, 2016, Shirley made her journey to her heavenly home. Shirley will live on in the lives of her family. She leaves behind all of her children: Suzanne (& Jim) Higgs, Donna (& Kevin) Torrey, Joel (& Vicky) Petzold, Page (& Marty) Kidd, Sonja (& David) Russell, Jason (& Linda) Petzold, Julian (& Jenny) Petzold, and Erica (& Kalieh) Vann, 21 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren. She also leaves her brother, Eugene (& Donna) Bremer, sister in law Delores (& the late Martin) Damm, and Carol (& the late Rod) Bremer. She will also be remembered by brother and sister in laws, many nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends. She was preceeded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings Joyce Jeanette, Judy Rae, Dixie Lee, Carolyn Kay, and Roderick.

Shirley lived her life always ready to meet Jesus. Her deep desire is that one day, we will all "be there!"

"Well done, Shirley, God's good and faithful servant."