Shirley Mae (Kosloske) Baenen, 88, formerly of Jamestown, died on Monday, February 21, 2022 at St. Vincent’s nursing home in Bismarck, her home for the last several years, after a long struggle with dementia that robbed her memory but never took away her warm and caring personality.
Shirley grew up in Sauk Rapids, MN, the second-youngest of three boys and two girls born to Theodore “Ted” and Margaret (Canfield) Kosloske.
Shirley was homecoming queen and a cheerleader at Sauk Rapids High School. She met her future husband, Jerrold “Jerry” Baenen of Jamestown, at a dance while he was a student at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. They married on May 29, 1954, and moved in 1955 to Jamestown, where they raised five children. Shirley and Jerry celebrated 62 years of marriage until his death on December 9, 2016.
Shirley ran their business _ Town House Liquors _ while Jerry went to UND to earn his master’s degree in the mid-1970s. She also enjoyed working at her friend JoAnn Albrecht’s bath shop in downtown Jamestown, volunteering at Jamestown Hospital and singing in the choir at Concordia Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Jamestown.
Besides her love of bridge, Shirley also was an accomplished baker, cook and quilter who made quilts for her grandchildren when they were born. She loved going to casinos and was known for her great sense of humor and infectious laugh.
Survivors include three sons, Jeffrey (Laura), Randall (Deena) and Steven (Amy); two daughters, Kathy (Mark) Ottmar and Julie (Charlie) Jeske; 10 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. She also is survived by her sister, Judy (Jim) Gratke of Laporte, MN. In addition to her husband, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Jerry, Roger and James “Buzz” Kosloske.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Concordia Lutheran Church of Jamestown, Jamestown Arts Center or Alpha Opportunities of Jamestown.
Funeral: 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2022 at Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND.
Visitation: 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Prayer Service: 7:30 p.m., Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.
Interment: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, at a later date.
Eddy Funeral Home handling the arrangements.