Shirley June Rose Dunwiddie   Age 95, of Rice Lake, WI died Monday, December 9, 2019 at Brentwood in Rice Lake.   Shirley was born on January 19, 1924 in Milwaukee, WI to Harvey and Louise (Behm) Geilfuss.  She graduated from Antigo High School in 1942 and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin in Madison, graduating with a BS in Zoology. She did graduate work at the University of Minnesota. Shirley met Foster on a blind date. They were attracted to each other, and after several more dates, Foster popped the question. They married on May 26, 1947 in the Chapel of the First Congregational Church in Madison. A camping honeymoon followed in a state park near Wisconsin Rapids.

Shirley later became a reference librarian at the U of M’s Wilson Library, earning a MA in Library Science. She enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles, gardening, fishing, and later, genealogy. She loved zoology, dogs and houseplants, world affairs, and a good bargain, at which she was an expert in the hunting.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Foster Dunwiddie of Rice Lake; 3 children, Carolyn (Gerald) Chasteen of Birchwood, William (Rebecca) Dunwiddie of Bloomington, MN and Catherine (Thomas) Grilli of Chandler, AZ; 7 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and a brother, William Geilfuss of St. Paul, MN; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Louise Geilfuss and a brother, Harvey Geilfuss.

A celebration of her life will be held in the spring or early summer at her Balsam Lake home, with a private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials preferred. Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake is in charge of the arrangements.  

Last Update: Dec 17, 2019 8:22 am CST