Shirley Ann Waszak

Shirley A. Waszak

(Nee Jackson) Born to Eternal life May 9, 2025, at the age of 74. Beloved wife of LeRoy Waszak for 45 years. Loving sister of Sandra (Michael) Kamla. Stepmother of Gary (Lisa Caballero-Waszak), Brian (Lisa) Waszak and Laura (George) Doome. Further survived by 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Evelyn Jackson, and by her sister Louise Alliene Zigler.

Shirley followed many of her dreams throughout her life. As a teen and in her early 20’s, she rode horses with her sister, Sandy, in her hometown in Indiana. Shirley was an employee of Federal Express for many years. She also had a passion for photography and her photograph of the “snow on a picnic table in Wisconsin” was published in a widely available calendar. Shirley married LeRoy in a little chapel in Las Vegas in 1980 and they traveled to Oahu, Hawaii every March to visit her parents. Shirley loved to garden and took pride in sharing her knowledge of gardening and growing numerous varieties of tomatos, green beans, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, onions and so much more. You were very lucky if you got to try some of her fresh homegrown produce. Store bought produce would not compare.

Shirley adored visiting with all her grandchildren and she would often ride her scooter to attend many of her grandchildren’s little league baseball games at the Moose Lodge near her home. Shirley would also mail the grandchildren homemade puzzles in August right before the start of the school year to get their thoughts flowing again and back into school mode. Shirley had a passion for writing and was an accomplished writer. For many years, she wrote a column covering garden tips and recipes called “Wazette’s Kitchen,” which was published in the Milwaukee Police Department’s employee newspaper called “The Badge.” Most recently, Shirley was the author of twelve fantasy fiction books and one self-help book on Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, all under the pseudonym Sheril Lee. Shirley was also in the middle of working on a screenplay of her book series and was hoping to make a TV series about her books to showcase the main character, Lady Shilight.

Shirley (and LeRoy) also loved to put their minds together to create and mail out comical homemade birthday, anniversary, holiday cards, etc. for their family and friends. She loved to laugh. Most of all, Shirley was an adoring wife and loved to spend precious time with LeRoy in their backyard, while gardening, cooking, socializing with neighbors, and especially enjoyed watching soap operas, game shows & Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.

The legacy of Shirley’s love, warmth, and spirited personality will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends. In honor of Shirley, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Wisconsin Chapter, an organization close to her heart.

A committal service will be held at ST. ADALBERT CEMETERY CHAPEL (3801 S. 6th St. Milw. WI) on Friday May 30th at 11 AM. Family and friends please meet at the west parking lot by the office and we will then proceed to the chapel for service.

Words from Shirley’s sister Sandy:

Shirley Ann (Jackson) Waszak was born September 10, 1950 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Walter and Evelyn Jackson. She passed away unexpectedly on Friday May 9th in her home in Milwaukee WI. Her early years were spent in Fort Wayne on a quiet tree lined peaceful city street.

Right out of high school, she completed an airline correspondence program and was hired immediately by Ozark Airlines. She worked the third shift in Peoria, IL, booking flights before moving to Milwaukee, WI, and becoming a travel agent in their downtown office. After several years there, Swissair offered her a position as an American based travel representative for them which she took. Great job, but required more travel than she anticipated, so she went to work for Federal Express who’s office was just blocks from her home. All of these made for quite a nice career for her.

In 1980 she married Lee Wsazak and they had a loving 45 years together. They enjoyed traveling early on, until MS made surely slow things down. Lee took care of her every need during those stressful years and they found a new path together. When Lee developed Parkinson's, Shirley stepped up to do the same for him. Fiercely loyal and forever loving is how I would describe their marriage. Truly amazing.

Shirley loved being outside, soaking up the sun and tending to her fabulous flower pots and bountiful vegetable gardens. Our annual spring visit was always a marathon of planting up to those 25 or so pots with flowers (as many flowers as each pot would hold), euchre games until we couldn't stay awake any longer, trivia questions (we always won because we answered as a team) and tons of laughter through it all!

Oldest sister, Louise, left our five person family early on and in many of the following years mom and dad left us too. But Shirley and I held fast to a close sisterly bond whether it be by text almost every day or visits to her home. We shared a like sense of humor and always knew what the other “meant” by our shared memories. We would “watch” together by text our horse racing, bull riding and Packer games.

Shirley was such a caring and loving person. And that loyalty… was also present in her friends - from school days in Fort Wayne to her 3rd shift airline days in Peoria and to her 8th St. neighborhood friends of today.

You were one-of-a-kind, Shirley. Loving and caring, with independence and tenacity in the mix as well. We will all miss you already. Rest in peace, Shirley.