Shirley Maxine Wernke, 93, passed away Friday, August 11, 2023 at Heritage Ridge in Bellevue, Nebraska.
She was born on November 14, 1929 in Ardmore, Alberta, Canada to Vergil A. and Velma Amelia (Lewis) Perrin. In her early childhood the family moved to a ranch north of Hyannis where she grew up. She was a graduate of Alliance High School.
On March 4, 1948 she was united in marriage to Raymond William Wernke in Alliance. They lived in Alliance until moving to Thedford in 1957. In 1974 they moved to Grand Island, NE. Following the death of her husband in 2000 Shirley moved to Colorado and lived there until 2016.
She is survived by her children, Michael (Patricia) Wernke of Lincoln, Ronald Wernke of Lincoln, Judith (Carlos) Garcia of Greeley, CO and Velma Jean Whitaker of Bellevue, NE. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Harold Perrin, her sister, Lila Bryant and her son-in-law, Dan Whitaker.
Funeral services will be Thursday, August 17 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Matt Koperski officiating. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery. A wake service will be Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home and continue at the wake service.
Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.