Shirley Sadie Huneke, age 87, of Batesville, IN (The Chateau), passed away peacefully on February 5, 2021 at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. She was surrounded by her immediate family when God called her home after a brief illness.
Shirley was born May 5, 1933 on the family farm in Lawrenceville, IN. She was the third of six children born to Estal and Ida Huber. Shirley attended the local country school and graduated from Sunman High School in 1951. She helped with all the chores that came along with farm life.
Rumor has it that she often volunteered for indoor work to get out of doing outside duties. Although the work was hard and seemingly unending, Shirley fit in time to have fun with friends and siblings whenever possible.
Shirley eventually left home and put her domestic skills to good use by taking on various jobs as a live-in housekeeper. In her spare time, she went to parties and dances with her core group of friends and dabbled in drawing and painting as well.
Shirley met and fell in love with a young man from these social gatherings. They were married in 1962 and began life on a small farm just outside of Batesville, IN, where they had 2 daughters, Wendy and Tracy. Sadly, the union was not meant to be, and Shirley became a single parent, raising the 2 daughters on her own. With a strong faith and determination, working as a cleaning lady, Shirley was able to provide for everything her family needed, and even put both daughters through college.
Shirley was creative and good with crafts. She loved to build things and assist with school art and science projects. Shirley enjoyed being outside, mowing grass, working in the garden, and planting flowers. She also enjoyed participating in church activities at St Jacobs at Blue Creek, visiting with family and friends, and trying out new recipes. Some of her other hobbies included going to garage sales, bowling, and volunteering at the local Fireman Festival.
Amazingly, Shirley did not retire until she turned 80, and she lived by herself in the country a few years after that, until her daughters convinced her to rest a little and let others help take care of her. Shirley sold her home and moved to the Chateau in Batesville, where she became quite proficient at completing puzzles, crosswords, playing UNO, and winning at Bingo.
Shirley was quite content living the simple life. She had an infectious smile, bright blue eyes, a mischievous sense of humor, and apparently, was a social butterfly with the gift of gab.
Shirley is survived and missed by daughters, Wendy (Jim) Ray of Hilliard, OH, and Tracy (Phil) Michael of Cicero, IN; grandsons, Jared and Kyle Michael; brother, Vernon (Betty Jo) Huber of Sunman, IN; nieces and nephews Duane, Mark, Doug, Brenda, Daryl, Cindi, Cassie, Lori, Cheryl, Christy, Diane, Joyce, and Rebecca and their families, along with many other extended family and friends. Preceded in death by parents Estal and Ida Huber, siblings, Betty Ann Roepke, Allen Huber, Dorothy Baker Eaton, Loraine Galle and nephew, Eldon Roepke.
Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Shirley are invited to Meyers Funeral Home, Batesville, IN, on Saturday, February 13, 2021, 1-2 PM to reminisce prior to a funeral service at 2PM, to be presided by Pastor Mark Jellison. Burial will follow at St Jacob’s Cemetery, Blue Creek.
Memorial donations may be directed to St Jacob’s UCC, Blue Creek, or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital c/o Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.
In accordance with the Indiana COVID-19 precautions, all attending are required to wear a mask and follow proper social distancing protocol. If you are not feeling well, or if you have compromised immune system, you are encouraged to stay home.
You are welcome to leave a message at www.meyersfuneralhomes.com on Shirley’s obituary page for the family in the online guestbook.