Shirlee Jean (Panoch) Howe, 79
Shirlee Jean (Panoch) Howe, age 79 of Fredericksburg, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, with her children by her side at Regional Health Services of Howard County, Cresco.
A private family Scripture service with be held at Conway-Markham Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Frey officiating.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Shirlee was born on Jan. 7, 1942, in Iowa City, to James Willard Mitchell and Emma Elvira (Boots) Bunn Mitchell of Muscatine. She was raised in Muscatine, and later moved to Evansdale, after her father, James Mitchell lost his life in Luxembourg at the “Battle of The Bulge” during World War II. Her mother later re-married and moved the family to Fredericksburg, where she attended Fredericksburg High School.
She married Donald W. Panoch Aug. 22, 1964. They moved to an acreage in North Washington, where they farmed until 1970.
Shirlee attended Pixi Cosmetology College while living on the farm. They returned to Fredericksburg, where she had her shop working out of her home. They later divorced, and she went on to work at Sara Lee and retired from there when the plant closed.
Shirlee loved her family especially her grandchildren! She enjoyed the outdoors. She enjoyed hunting with her brothers, children, and grandchildren.
But she enjoyed fishing the most with her family; she was always up to a good competition of who got the first fish, the most, and the biggest!
She enjoyed visiting her son and granddaughter in Wisconsin and going out on the boat fishing with them! Her daughter and son-in law enjoyed taking her to a private pond to fish on the weekends, where she recently got the first, the biggest and the most. They also took her with them to local craft shows, shopping and playing cards with family when time allowed.
She will be remembered for her kind and caring soul.
Shirlee is survived by her loving children, William “Willie” Panoch of Milltown, Wisconsin, and Brenda, Jeff (Panoch) Zahasky of Calmar; grandchildren, Mitchell A. and (Sarah) Crema of Butte, Montana, and Hunter W. Panoch of River Falls, Wisconsin; siblings, James Mitchell and special friend Carol Schultz of Fredericksburg, and Dan (Patricia) Becker of Elk Run Heights; sister-in-law, Mary Mitchell of Kissimmee, Florida; brother-in-law Dean Speicher, Fredericksburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Shirlee is preceded in death by her parents, James, and Emma Mitchell; brother, Jacque Mitchell; sister, Judy Speicher; her children’s father, Donald Panoch; and very special friend Larry Edwards.
