Shirley Lang

Shirley M. Lang, 92, a long-time resident of Marathon City, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Onalaska Care Center, La Crosse.

She was born on January 9,1934, in Ray, N.D., daughter of the late Lawrence and Eunice (Lemire) LaJoie. On February 22,1955, she married Herbert Lang in Newberry, Mich., and he preceded her in death on May 16, 2017.

Shirley was born during the depression and moved first to Montana, then South Carolina, and later back to North Dakota where Shirley finished high school. Her first job as a youth was for the local Red Owl Store. In her adult life she held several jobs, including as a switchboard operator and typist at an engineering company. After settling in Marathon with her husband, she worked at St. Mary’s School and at Marathon Cheese. In her retirement, she continued to contribute to St. Mary’s, helping with cleaning at the rectory and church as well as at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center. She also helped with the RCIA program, Rite of Christian Initiation. She enjoyed traveling, especially camping with family, and visiting national parks and monuments from Alaska to Florida. Some of her other enjoyments included puzzles, gardening, sewing, baking and swimming, which she jokingly described as having learned how to do “correctly” at age 70. Holiday gatherings with family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as quilt retreats with her sisters and nieces, were some of her most cherished times.

Shirley had a very warm heart matched by an endearing personality. She developed strong and deep friendships wherever she went whether it was at work, the swim center or at the living centers she resided at over the later years where we would often find her visiting with her neighbors. At those locations, as well as at the care center during her final weeks, it was common to have people describe her as such a sweet, kind person. Survivors include her sons: Anthony (Margaret) Lang, Steven (Mary) Lang and Scott (Donna) Lang; grandchildren: Rachel (David) Salsedo, Brian (Kelsey) Lang, Andrew Lang, Sarah Lang, Benjamin Lang, Brittany Lang (Joshua) and Brandon Lang (fiancé Megan); great-grandchildren: Nora, Nathaniel, Samuel, Marilyn and Joseph; many other relatives and friends.

Besides her parents and husband, Herb, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Janet Knox, Harley LaJoie, Jeannine Kutnink and Lawrence “Buck” LaJoie.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Marathon. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Marathon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s School, Marathon.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.