Shirley Erfurth

Erfurth, Shirley Anderson OREGON-Shirley Anderson Erfurth, age 58, entered eternal life, surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 5, 2009, in Madison. Shirley was born on Sept. 14, 1950, in Madison, to Arthur Morris and Marian (Ellis) Anderson. A lifelong resident of Brooklyn and Oregon, she graduated from Oregon High School in 1968. After graduation, Shirley attended the University of Northern Colorado and Lawrence University Conservatory of Music from 1968 until 1970. She married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Dean Erfurth on Aug. 7, 1971, in Brooklyn while pursuing her bachelor of music education degree at Milton College. Following her graduation, Shirley started her lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of her students, friends and family through her gift of music excellence. For that incredible gift, we are all very grateful and proud. Shirley was a highly talented musician, who began teaching piano in 1970 and in 1972 commenced a 30 year teaching career in the Oregon School District. It was throughout this period of time that she touched the lives of hundreds of students and their families in the Oregon and Brooklyn communities with her annual Spring concerts. Those concerts demonstrated Shirleys musical creativity, genius and humor. Just ask any of her students or those who attended these special events. Who can forget the inevitable "Chicken Dance" at the conclusion of the concert, when the parents and guests were invited to dance by their student? It is a legacy of Shirleys musical excellence and engaging personality that will never be forgotten. In her "spare time", Shirley attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was the resident organist at her beloved Community United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, and was an active member of MENC, Music Educators. She was also a member of the Musical Choral Directors Association, the Genealogy Society, the Ellis Island Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Shirley was the family historian specializing in capturing the history of the Ames family and related family lines. An avid Badgers fan, Shirley and Denny took every opportunity to watch Badgers games, especially the hockey team, for which she knew every player, their number and their stats. Their passion as fans took them all over the country during WCHA playoffs for many years. Shirleys indomitable spirit masked an incredibly debilitating disease which ultimately took her life much too soon. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 15 and was to subsequently endure more than 65 surgical operations over the next 43 years. The family is grateful for the care given by her physicians, nurses and other caregivers over the years, and especially the skilled and compassionate staff in the Meriter Intensive Care Unit during the past several weeks. Shirley is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughter, Angela Denise; brother, Richard (Julie) Anderson; sisters, Pat (Al) Wilkening and Janet (James) Ekenberg; nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws; and countless caring and generous friends that filled her heart with laughter and love, and brought sunshine into her life. Funeral services will be held at PEOPLES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 Alpine Parkway, Oregon, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2009, with the Rev. Gail Brown presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Brooklyn.