Shirley Sundquist

Madison – Shirley Ruth Sundquist December 21, 1924-August 19, 2022 After 97 years of service, faith, music and love, Shirley Ruth Sundquist (aka grandma, Aunt Shirl) passed away peacefully on August 19, 2022, joining many family and friends she has missed for many years. The heavenly reunion they are having must be amazing. Her parents were Rubert and Olive (Bruns) Steinhauer. She is preceded in death by husband Dr. William Sundquist, son Ric Sundquist, her parents, sisters Mary Ellen Christensen, Jeanette Erickson and brothers Fritz Steinhauer and Harold (Woodie) Steinhauer, brothers-in-law Pastor Stanley Christensen, Gene Erickson, sisters-in-law Nancie Steinhauer and Betty Steinhauer. She is survived by brother John Steinhauer and sister-in-law Cathy Steinhauer, granddaughter Kate Atkins and grandson-in-law Colin, daughter-in-law Susan Sundquist (Ric) and many dear nieces and nephews. A special thanks to the caregivers at Sunset Ridge in Johnson Creek for the compassion and care they gave to Shirley the last two years. Shirley spent every moment with faith in her soul and a song in her heart. For her birthday, one nephew said, “She has a true faithfulness to her God and she demonstrates this in everything she does. She has such a faithful presence, and her integrity is unparalleled.” She truly served God by serving all of his creation – family, friends, children, pets, flowers… She spent much time volunteering for nursing homes and assisted living facilities leading “hymn sings” to bring joy to others. In her last years she could often be found singing songs and hymns from memory to herself to pass the time. Shirley graduated from UW Madison School of Music in 1946. She spent her first year of teaching in Milwaukee followed by 35 years teaching music in Maple Bluff and Madison, WI schools. She won the “Distinguished Service Award” in 1988 from the Madison School District. She taught the joy of music to thousands of children over her career. One principal wrote at her retirement, “Many of the programs which have broadened children’s music appreciation as well as enhanced their self-confidence and personal worth were not part of her teaching contract. These endeavors she has pursued as an individual interested in giving the gift of music to children.” This principal asked her students to say what they liked most about music and Mrs. Sundquist. They answered: “Her voice”, “When we play instruments,” “How she treats us,” “She lets us sing lots of fun songs,” “She makes music fun,” “What do I like best?...Her!” Along with teaching she directed choirs, spending several years as choir director at St John’s Lutheran Church where she had 4 choirs weekly. She served as director of the Madison Women’s Chorus and the Dane County Women’s Chorus. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota – a professional music fraternity for over 75 years. She was an active member at St. John’s Lutheran Church her whole life, serving as the alter committee chair for 32 years. She was head of the women of the church for many years and taught Sunday School. Shirley spent 91 wonderful years on Kensington Drive in Maple Bluff, WI where she kept a gorgeous home and garden. She grew up in that home and when Shirley’s husband passed away in 1949 she moved back, where she raised and doted on her son Ric and cared for her mother Olive. After Ric passed in 1981 she continued her doting on her granddaughter Kate. Her house continuously smelled like the amazing food she always was cooking for family and friends. Her Schaum Torte will be missed! Shirley loved her dogs, many times buying better groceries for them than for her. The multiple Tips and Rags lived in style! In her later days her neighbors knew her as the lady who walked around the block regardless of her age and weather with her senior dog Rags trailing slowly behind. Her neighbors loved her. Her neighbors were very important to Shirley. She often treated them to s’mores parties which were her favorite, and always had bacon ready for neighborhood dogs who passed by while she sat in her driveway enjoying the sun. A funeral service will be held for Shirley at 12:30 pm, Thursday, August 25, 2022 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 322 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703. Visitation will be held from 11 am-12:30 pm with a service to follow. Following the service we invite you to join us in one final s’mores party at the church in her honor. Burial will take place Thursday at 3 pm at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 322 E Washington Dr, Madison, WI 53703 or SAI Madison Alumnae Scholarship Fund (Sundquist in memo line): via Zelle at MadisonSAI.Sister@gmail.com To view and sign her guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Avenue 608-249-8257