Shirley D. Sjoerdsma

Shirley D. Sjoerdsma, age 91, died November 30, 2023, at the Remembrance Home in Beaver Dam, WI, after suffering a stroke in January.

Shirley was born July 31, 1932, the daughter of Henry R. and Hazel (Prange) Vande Zande, and grew up on their farm in the Township of Trenton near Waupun. Her quiet strength and determination became evident early in her life when she resolved to attend high school at a time when there was no school bus transportation for country students.  She arranged to stay with a family in town during the school week and did household chores in exchange for her room and board.  Graduating with the class of 1949 at the age of sixteen, she had already begun employment at the State Bank of Waupun during the last semester of her senior year.

Shirley married Clarence Sjoerdsma on March 14, 1952, and moved to rural Randolph to farm with him.  Over the course of the next six years she became a busy mother of four.  In 1967 she went back to banking, this time at Dairyman’s State Bank in Randolph, to help finance Christian education for the children.  Her trust in God gave her the strength and determination to see her through an extremely difficult time when Clarence died unexpectedly in 1969.  She managed to cope with a farm, a family, a job, the sale of the farm, and the purchase of a house in town – all within a few months time.

In 1972 Shirley married Peter Vis and worked hard to assist him in his duties as pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Randolph.  After his death, she returned to her banking job and then married Joe Sjoerdsma in 1987.  She retired from the bank in 1997, returned part-time, and retired again in 2007.

Her trust in God was central in Shirley’s life.  In the course of her life changes, she became an active member of a succession of area churches including Emmanuel Reformed Church of Waupun, First Christian Reformed Church of Randolph, Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Waupun, and Second Christian Reformed Church of Randolph.  Recently, she was happy to be welcomed as a member of Grace United Reformed Church of Waupun.

Shirley’s family and friends knew her as a loving, hard-working, generous person.  She always seemed to be cooking or baking something for someone, and her supply of delicious chocolate chip cookies never seemed to run out.  She enjoyed travel, was a skillful seamstress and knitter, and loved to read. She could be described as a life-long learner.

Shirley was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by the family she leaves behind.  Her children include Louise Dykstra, Glen (Judy) Sjoerdsma, David (Sharon) Sjoerdsma, and Ellen (John) Dekker.  Grandchildren include Rochelle (Andy) Budzinski, Rudy Sjoerdsma, Jara (Kevin) Sieja, Rob (Cassie) Sjoerdsma, Jane Sjoerdsma, Mark (Sarah) Sjoerdsma, Dave (Andrea) Dekker, Ruth (John) Engbers, and Ben (Rachel) Dekker.  Nineteen great grandchildren complete her immediate family. She is further survived by her brother, Neil (Judy) Vande Zande, her sister, Phyllis Westra, and other relatives and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; her brother, Russell Vande Zande; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Theodore Sjoerdsma, Junice Sjoerdsma, Tena Vande Zande, and Jerry Westra; and her son-in-law, Dennis Dykstra.

Memorials may be established in Shirley’s name to Grace United Reformed Church, 601 Buwalda Dr, Waupun, WI 53963.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at East Friesland New Covenant Church, N8879 E Friesland Rd, Randolph, WI 53956.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at East Friesland New Covenant Church with Pastor Paul Freswick officiating. Burial will follow at Friesland Cemetery.