Shirley J. Jambois

It is with great sorrow that we announce that Shirley Jean Jambois left this world unexpectedly on April 12, 2024, at the age of 75.   In true Shirley fashion, she left us without fanfare and without warning, leaving our hearts broken.   For those of us who knew her we will morn her loss for as long as we are on blessed to grace this earth.    

 Shirley was raised in Genoa, WI and spent most of her life living in the small surrounding communities. She loved sharing stories of the mischief she, her siblings, cousins and friends got into growing up & running around town. As a little girl she wanted to wear dresses, had these incredible bright, blue eyes and white-blonde hair, and held her own in any joking or bantering that went on.  Small town life suited Shirley well, and she maintained lifelong relationships with countless friends, family, and neighbors from the Genoa area.

 Shirley wore many hats in her lifetime, holding countless jobs and living an array of life experiences, but none gave her greater joy than being a mother and grandmother. To say she was proud of her sons, Brian and Chad, and her grandsons, Brock, Cooper and Jace would be an understatement. Her face lit up when she talked about her boys, their accomplishments, and the lives they have created.  Nothing gave Shirley more joy than watching her grandsons play ball or the many other activities they enjoyed and sharing stories about their adventures.  She was a devoted Brewers and Packers fan and watched golf (she actually hit a hole in one when she played years ago!) and she shared that love with her sons and grandsons.

Shirley was a lover of nature, in any form.  She enjoyed gardening and feeding the birds, spending countless hours tending her flowers and feeders, at the home she & Tim built together in Romance Valley.  She was quite proud of her knack for attracting hummingbirds, and her feeders were home to hundreds of hummers each summer.  Shirley never met a “critter” she didn’t love, and was always a champion for the underdog, she took in countless strays over the years. She was known to carry treats in her pocket if there was a chance she would be seeing a fury friend.  Shirely adored her pets. Her cats and dogs were given the best life. Her grief when she lost any of them was almost palatable to those of us who knew her well.

 Shirley had a wicked sense of humor, and a quick wit. Her quick wit enabled her to banter back and forth with almost anyone. She could hand it out and take it when someone fired back.  If she really liked you, she might even call you an unmentionable name, all in fun and with a good hearty laugh.  She was a very intelligent person who had an uncanny knack for remembering dates, times, people and places.  She was one of the best crocheters many ever saw in their lives.  Her stitching was perfect, which was a trait she learned and shared with her mother Betty.   Those of us who have something crocheted by her will treasure those things and hold them close to our hearts.   

 Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Jambois; father, Harris Jambois, brother Brent Jambois, an infant sister, brother-in-law, Ed DeFlorian; and the love of her life, Tim Ackman.  She is survived by sons, Brian (Terri) Jambois of Canal Fulton, OH and Chad Osthoff (Heather Delap) of DeSoto, WI; grandsons, Brock Jambois, Cooper Jambois & Jace Jambois; brothers Wayne (Judy) Jambois of Susanville, CA and Bruce (Marlene) Jambois of Genoa, WI; sisters Mary DeFlorian of La Crosse, WI and Beth Frauenkron of Sherwood, WI, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and fantastic close friends.

 A celebration of life will take place at a later date. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.