Shirley Wickering

Shirley Ruth VandeMark Wickering left us on Sunday, October 12, 2025 to be with the saints. She died peacefully at home in her sleep.

She was born on March 5, 1928 in Waukegan, Illinois and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended Oakleigh grade school, Mount Mercy Academy and Mercy Central School of Nursing where she earned her license as a Registered Nurse.

In 1950, she married the love of her life, James Robert Wickering, known by his family and friends as Bob. Together, they raised five children. When her children were young, Shirley worked regular part-time at St. Mary’s hospital. Later, she found her calling as a school nurse. She retired to give her husband, Bob, full time care when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was active in the Red Cross, training volunteers in home nursing. She was a calm presence in medical emergencies and helped at the scene of many accidents. When a neighbor fell from a ladder or she passed an accident on the road, Shirley ran with her skills to the injured, providing care and comfort until the first responders arrived.

She loved browsing estate sales, antique stores and flea markets and was a long-time member of the Campau-Lyons Questers club. She collected and sold antiques through her business “Unique and Antique”. An inspired artist, she worked in many mediums: water color, papier mache, fabric, dried flowers and more. For many years she had a sought after booth at the annual Garfield Park craft show. She was featured with her dried flower arrangements in three articles in the Grand Rapids Press. Her motto was on her bumper sticker, “Find what you love. Love what you find.”

Shirley loved the beach and sunbathing. She used to pile the kids and a babysitter in the car and head to Lake Michigan. For years, she and Bob set up their trailer at Grand Haven State Beach. She also loved working in her garden full of moonflowers and for years enjoyed competitive bowling in a league.

Shirley was a caring motherly figure to many people over the years, including a foreign exchange student, Elba Villanueva, from Argentina. Shirley’s door and her heart were always open to young people who needed a place to stay.

The Wickerings enjoyed summers in their trailer at Lake Macatawa and renting cottages on Wabasis Lake and Big Pine Island Lake. They traveled to California twice to visit her father and stepmother and once to Washington DC. Shirley traveled to Argentina for Elba’s wedding, Venezuela with Bob, and later, twice to Egypt. to visit her daughter Deb and many times to stay with her daughter Pat in New Orleans. Three years ago, at 94, she drew admirers at every stop on a cross country road trip with two of her daughters to visit her sister Jane in Bellingham Washington.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Robert (Bob) and her son, Charles Edward. She outlived her mother, Irene Murrie, her father, Walter VandeMark, stepmother, Gert VanHouten VandeMark, a sister, Jane Elizabeth Kletka and three brothers: Donald, Charles and Robert VandeMark.

She is survived by four of her children: Deborah Jane Wickering, Mark Allen (Pamela), Patricia Ann Wickering Schoonbeck (Fred) and Betty Jean Wickering. Grandchildren: Allen Wickering, Marc Wickering, Monica Wickering Stover (Bo), Eddie Moeggenborg, Hannah Moeggenborg (Justin), Great grandchildren: Winry Skinner, Rowan Skinner, Finley Stover and Monroe Stover. Step Grandchildren: Tracy Bell and her children: Victoria Rake, Seth Hale and great great grandchild Abigail Rake. She is the last of her generation in the Wickering family and will be missed by nieces, nephews their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Through her life’s adventures, Shirley made and kept many friends who will miss her dearly and remember her with love.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 20, 2025 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 215 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Shirley’s family will receive relatives at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt and Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, 49504 on Sunday, October 19 from 3 – 5 PM with a vigil service starting at 5 PM. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park will follow.