Shirley Jean Grunden (née Waechter)

With her beloved husband Keith by her side, Shirley Jean Grunden peacefully passed from death to life in her sleep on December 19, 2025, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She now rests in the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Shirley was born on July 29, 1938, to Edgar and Gertrude Waechter in Quincy, Illinois, where she spent most of her life. She met the love of her life, Keith Grunden, at the Adams County Fair, and the two were married and shared 66 faithful years together. In Quincy, Shirley and Keith farmed side by side, eventually establishing and operating a dairy farm for many years. At the same time, Shirley faithfully served her community as a registered nurse at Blessing Hospital.

Together they were blessed to raise four children in Quincy: Kent, Karen, Kathy, and Kristine. They also entrusted to the loving arms of Jesus an infant daughter, Kelly.

Throughout their years in Quincy, the Grunden family was actively involved at St. James Lutheran Church, where Shirley lived out her faith in worship, service, and fellowship. Following the death of her mother, Gertrude, in 2003, and the sale of the family farm, Shirley and Keith relocated to Sycamore, Illinois, to be closer to family in the greater Chicago area. There they became active members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sycamore as well as serving in the Gideon’s ministry of getting The Word of God to as many people as possible.

Fifteen years ago, Shirley and Keith began wintering in Harlingen, Texas, at East Gate Park. Desiring to spend even more time with their grandchildren, they became full-time Texas residents four years ago and were active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Harlingen.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Gertrude Waechter; her sister, Betty Waechter; her brother-in-laws, Norman Wollbrink and Neal Grunden; and her infant daughter, Kelly.

She is survived by her husband, Keith Grunden; her sister, Joyce Wollbrink; her children and their spouses: Kent and Mary Grunden, Karen and Brad Perry, Kathy and Bill Adams, and Kristine and Nathan Wendorf. Her greatest earthly joys were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jennifer Grunden; Tyler and Sarah Grunden; Amanda Grunden; Ryan and Rachael Perry; Emily and Sean Duddy and their children Charlotte and Cecilia, Andrea Perry; Dakota Adams; Hunter Adams; and Jonathan, Tabitha, Caleb, and Priscilla Wendorf.

While all who loved Shirley mourn her passing, we do not grieve as those without hope. She was washed in the water and the Word of Holy Baptism and therefore has passed from death to life. She now awaits with all the saints “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorials to St. James Lutheran Church (Quincy, IL), St. John’s Lutheran Church (Sycamore, IL), or St. Paul Lutheran Church (Harlingen, TX), congregations that were a great blessing throughout Shirley’s life or to the Gideons International Ministry.

A funeral service will be held in person and livestreamed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 602 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen, Texas, on December 22 at 4:00 p.m. Visitation at Hanson Spear Funeral Home in Quincy, IL with graveside burial following on December 27 at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy, IL with times TBA.