Shirley Jean Stoecker, 99, of Saint Louis, MO and Waterloo, IL, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Cedarhurst Assisted Living in Waterloo.
According to Shirley’s wishes, she has chosen to donate her body for research science to Washington University in St. Louis. There will be a celebration of life held at a later date. Kutis funeral home is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be sent directly to the Saint Louis Zoo (https://stlzoo.org/give/tribute-fund), Every Child’s Hope (https://everychildshope.org), or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/affton-chapel/.
Shirley was born on Nov. 8, 1926 in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Roy and Ella C. (Sax) Stoecker. Shirley attended Rose Fanning Elementary School and Roosevelt High School in Saint Louis and later, attended Washington University in Saint Louis, taking night classes and graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was a long-time employee of Falstaff Brewing and then Shop-n-Save Grocery until she retired in 1992.
Shirley never married but she was a caring daughter to Ella, sister, cousin, aunt, neighbor and a friend who made life better for all of us. She always had a positive outlook on life and will be remembered for her dry wit, reluctance to let us visit, and of course, late birthday cards! In her early years she enjoyed visiting her grandparents Art and Tillie Stoecker who ran a resort at Lake of the Ozarks. She enjoyed tennis, became a Sailor, and enjoyed spending many fun days at the Lake with her Doepke and Sax family cousins. She volunteered at the Fox Theatre, was a fan and 35-year member of the St. Louis Zoo as well as being an avid member of the Missouri Walkways group. Shirley traveled to many parts of the US and world, sometimes with nieces and nephews in tow. She also enjoyed playing cards, especially with her Walkways friends. She enjoyed taking trips, doing travelogs, playing dominos and bingo while a resident of Laclede Groves in St. Louis and then Cedarhurst.
Shirley is survived by her nieces and nephews, Ellen (James Doyle) Stoecker of Seattle, WA; Jerry (Jenean, deceased) Stoecker of Columbia, IL; Susan (Jerry) Donsbach of Teutopolis IL; Richard (Mary Lou) Stoecker of Columbia, IL; Martin Stoecker of Wentzville, MO; Nancy (Hillary) White of Mattoon IL; David (Alyce Ward, deceased) Stoecker of Makanda, IL; great nieces/nephews, Larry (Jamie) Manuel, Lindsey (Joe Ingoldsby) Stoecker, Sarah (Todd) Cowger, Ryne (Mindy) Donsbach, Erik (Ashley) Stoecker, Ken (Erin) Stoecker, Phillip (Lauren) Stoecker, Jeffrey (Annie) Stoecker, Nikolas Stoecker, Madalyn Stoecker, Anthony Stoecker, and Lillian (Nick) Taylor; plus 13 great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Donald Roy Stoecker; sister-in-law Rose Ann (Hoeffner Stoecker) Mathy; nieces-in-law, Jenean Stoecker and Alyce Ward. She was also preceded in death by her nine first cousins and life-long friends, Bud Doepke, Dale Doepke, Lorriane (Sax) Jocobs, Art Sax, Bob Sax, Bill Sax, Ken Lemp, Virginia (Lemp) Osterloh and Marilyn Sax.
The family would like to give special thanks for the loving care shown Shirley by the many Hospice of So. Illinois nurses and aides and especially to the entire excellent staff at Cedarhusrt of Waterloo. We could not have made it through this journey without you.