Shirley Ann Spiegel

Shirley Ann (Nowak) Spiegel, born September 14, 1936, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Conrad Richard (Dick) Spiegel, and son, Konrad Nicholas Spiegel. She will be missed by her children, Stephen and Kate (Caliri) Spiegel, and James and Heidi Spiegel; grandchildren, Dorothy, Sam, Grace, Olivia, and Isabella; siblings, Tom and Rose Nowak, and Leonard and Joanne Nowak; and brothers-in-law, Msgr. Robert Spiegel, Fr. Tom Spiegel, and Fr. John Spiegel; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Shirley was born and raised alongside her younger brothers in Alpena, where she raised rabbits and graduated as valedictorian from her high school class. She often expressed deep gratitude for Dick’s provision, who happened to have a daily need for greeting cards when Shirley was working at a card store in Grand Rapids and smiled broadly when he recalled the orange pant suit she wore on their first date. Dick’s successful business ventures allowed Shirley to generously give to numerous nonprofit organizations throughout her life. While raising her three sons, Shirley picked up many hobbies, including country painting, crewel embroidery, and flower gardening, always striving to have the outcomes match her particular vision for whatever was at hand. She was an active and faithful member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia where she served as an usher. Shirley was known for her tenacious spirit and ability to boldly express her opinions, including her insistence on feeding the wildlife at their Caledonia residence despite critters coming near the home’s foundation. When it came to animals, Shirley’s tenderness was evident, from the care of her favorite cat, Samson, to proudly displaying pictures of James’s many cats on her bulletin board, cooing “little rascals” to Stephen’s rats, and even petting the mechanical dog in the sunroom at Boulder Creek Assisted Living where she passed in her sleep under the care of hospice. Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Holy Family Church, 9669 Kraft Ave. SE.  Memorial contributions in Shirley’s honor may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Kent County or to West Michigan Humane Society.