Shirley Ann Birkle

MADISON - Shirley Ann (Hedding) Birkle, age 90, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, January 30, 2026. She was born on April 11, 1935, in Madison, Wis., to Anna and Albert Hedding, and lived her entire life in the city she loved.

On May 22, 1954, Shirley married the love of her life, Donald Gottlieb Birkle. Their marriage was a devoted partnership filled with love, shared adventures, and deep commitment. Shirley was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy was her family.

Shirley was an active and faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she especially enjoyed playing in the bell choir. She generously volunteered her time at the Warner Park Senior Center and was an avid card player who enjoyed gathering with her many card groups. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, as well as special trips to the Fireside Theatre and Chicago with her close girlfriends of more than seven decades. A lover of nature, Shirley delighted in watching birds and squirrels from her bay window and found peace in her walks through Olbrich Gardens. A proud Wisconsinite, she rarely missed a chance to cheer on her favorite Wisconsin sports teams, especially basketball.

Shirley will be remembered for her kindness, her steady presence, her faith in God and the simple joys she embraced every day. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched and the generations of family who were blessed to love her.

Shirley is survived by her four children, Kari (Tim) Mulhern, Kristi Birkle, Alan (Holly)Birkle and Koni (Dave) Adams. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Erin, Erica, Ryan, Heidi, Kelly, Jared, Kortney, Jacob, Alyssa, Linsey, Alex, Michael, Mitchell and Karley; 16 great-grandchildren, Mekhi, Ayona, Syerah, Ede, Trevor, Claire, Kiki, Micah, Marley, Lucas, Finley, Ryder, Reagan, Riggs, Brooks and Bennett; and her sister-in-law, Judy Hedding. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Don Birkle; her parents; her daughter, Kathi Sullivan; her great-granddaughter, Anna Jelak; and her brothers, Albert and Donald (Wanda) Hedding.  

A funeral service will be held at TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1904 Winnebago St., Madison, at 12 noon on Thursday, February 5, 2026, with the Rev. Andy Twiton presiding. Burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Agrace HospiceCare, Inc.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420