Obituary of Shirley Martha Lau

Shirley Martha Lau, age 77, of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids. Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, December 5, 2014 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. James Douglas will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and on Friday, from 12:30 P.M. until the time of service at the church. Shirley was born on April 13, 1937 to Edward and Emma (Hansen) Stensberg in Wisconsin Rapids. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. In her younger years, Shirley was employed at Consolidated Papers Inc. Biron Division, where she met her husband Richard Lau; they were united in marriage on November 10, 1956 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. From 1974 to 1990, Shirley worked as a bus driver for Headstart. Shirley's greatest pride and joy was her family. During their 58 years together Shirley and Richard spent the majority of their free time "up north" at the cottage on Lake Alice, relishing the time spent there with family. She was a homemaker, raising four children. She was also instrumental in the upbringing of her two nephews after the untimely passing of her sister, Joyce, in 1981. Shirley and Richard also enjoyed cheering their grandchildren on while watching them play at their sporting events. She was a very loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, aunt and sister. Shirley was a sports fan who enjoyed bowling as well as watching the Green Bay Packers and Brewers. She was a Mickey Mouse collector. Shirley is survived by her loving husband Richard, three sons: Dan (Ruth) Lau of Merrill, Rick (Cindy) Lau of Wisconsin Rapids, and Todd (Carrie) Lau of Wisconsin Rapids; one daughter Sandy (Ron) Meyers of Wisconsin Rapids; 10 grandchildren: Jennifer Lau (Jim Temby) of Wausau, Ashley Lau (fiancé Jake Henrichs) of Medford, Krista (Jason) Johnson of Brainerd, MN, Andrew Lau (fiancé Tracy Andre) of Eau Claire, Kevin (Brittney) Lau of Wisconsin Rapids, Stacy Lau of St. Louis Park, MN, Amanda (Justin) Bohn of Wisconsin Rapids, Rebecca Heineck of Wisconsin Rapids, Travis Lau of Wisconsin Rapids, and Aiden Meyers of Wisconsin Rapids; nine great-grandchildren: Evan Henrichs, Lillian and Nikolai Johnson, Keegan and Breelyn Lau, Paige and Devon Bohn, Skyler and Lenix Heineck; sister, Karen (William) McCarthy of Vesper; four nephews: Rod McCarthy of Vesper, Ed (Patty) McCarthy of Vesper, Dean (Tammy) Stensberg of Wisconsin Rapids, and Eric Stensberg (James Peterson) of Minneapolis, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Wayne and sister, Joyce. In lieu of flowers donations may be made for a memorial that will be established at a later date.