Shirley Kohl

 At the age of 95, Shirley Jaeger Kohl, died peacefully in her home in Sheboygan on April 5th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

Shirley was born on August 25th, 1929 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to Louis and Ella (Schilling) Jaeger. Following graduation from Sheboygan Central High School, class of 1947, Shirley studied at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, in the field of home economics and design. On May 28th, 1949, Shirley married the love of her life, John O. Kohl. They settled in Sheboygan, in the Town of Wilson, where they spent 62 wonderful years together. Out of their passion for history, art and architecture, they purchased an old cottage and through the years turned it into a beautiful home. Shirley’s talents and interests in interior design became evident in the process as she braided rugs, sewed curtains, hand hewed beams and painted and stained everything in her path!

Shirley loved spending time with family and friends in the outdoors sailing, downhill skiing, and hunting and fishing in northern WI.

Shirley was very active in the community. She made life-long friends through the Town and Country Garden Club, Sheboygan Service Club, and through her involvement at the Kohler Art center. She also served as a Girl Scout leader for many years.

Shirley became an entrepreneur when, along with several friends, she started a business in Plymouth WI, called Country Crafts. Together, they turned a barn into a restaurant and retail shop featuring antiques, local culinary delights and arts and crafts.

The family has many fond memories of Grandma Shirl making holidays special. She was not only a wonderful cook,but also spent hours teaching everyone how to make Ukrainian eggs at Easter and baking dozens of tiny cookies and decorating cut out cookies with the grandkids at Christmas. Her storytelling around the dinner table will be missed by all, as we learned much about the generation before us through her many tales.

She is survived by her daughter Kathryn (Hal) Ribich; four grandchildren: Natalie (Tim) Bergstrom, Jacob Ribich, Anna (Bill) Jacob, and Jonathan (Shannon) Ribich; three great grandchildren: Ava Bergstrom, Grant Bergstrom, Kieran Bergstrom; one niece: Susie McAlister; and one nephew: John Felly. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, her daughter Ann, her sister and brother in law Mary and Alfred Felly, and her niece Martha Klushman.

It was Shirley’s wish to have a private family gathering in celebration of her life. Shirley will be laid to rest at the Kassa Cemetery in Cleveland, WI. Shirley was very grateful for the devoted, loving care given to her by her family, her many caring neighbors and friends, and the staff of Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.

In Shirley’s memory, donations can be made to the Youth Sailing Center, Nourish or Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.