Shirley Ann Lukens, age 82 of Prairie du Sac/Kalamazoo, MI passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Pine Villa Memory Care in Prairie du Sac, WI. She was born on September 7, 1934 in Milwaukee, the daughter of Carl John Sr. and Anna (Gren) Lukens. This family settled in Shell Lake, WI where Shirley graduated from the Shell Lake High School. As a teenager she came down with Polio which determined her life vocation. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy.

She received her Master's in Education in 1972 from the University of Illinois. She was a Staff Occupational Therapist at Highland View Hospital in Cleveland, OH and an Instructor in the Curriculum of Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. In 1972 she became an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI and in 1982 she became an Associate Professor at Western Michigan University until her retirement in 1997.


Shirley was a devoted member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kalamazoo until she returned to Wisconsin in July of 2013 to be near family.

She is survived by a brother, Carl John (Lula) Lukens Jr., Moody, TX and a brother David E Lukens (Linda Wiedenfeld) of Prairie du Sac. She is further survived by a niece, Shawna (Scott) Alt, Sauk City and a nephew, Travis (Emilie) Lukens, Merrimac; two great nephews, Thomas and William Alt and Linda's family; Michelle (Dean Vasey) Wiedenfeld, Renee (Matt) Cefalu and Georgia (Tim) Mellum and their children David and Sarah Carter, Emily and James Cefalu and Steele Mellum.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; Anna died in 1976 and Carl Sr. died in 1984.

A Celebration of Shirley's Life will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Lake Wisconsin Country Club from 5 to 8 PM. Join us at 6:00 for a brief prayer with Reverend Fred Rilling and a reflection of Shirley's life. A private burial in the Prairie du Sac Cemetery will be held at a later date.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to the staff and management of the Pines Assisted Living and Pine Villa Memory Care for the excellent care and compassion that Shirley received during her stay. We are also very appreciative to the Agrace Hospice Care Team for the care and support provided. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Shirley's name to Agrace Hospice Care or the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association.