Mavis Shager, 89, of Wiota, WI, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at BeeHive Homes of Mount Horeb. She was born March 16, 1937, the oldest child and only daughter of Norman and Melva Anderson. She grew up in Wiota. She was thrilled to get a baby brother at age ten and had a very large family of cousins who were like siblings. Mom graduated from Argyle High School in 1955. Her fun during high school was centered around dances at Turner Hall in Monroe. She especially loved to polka and passed that down to her kids.

Mom and Dad (Willard Shager) were married at West Wiota Lutheran Church in 1957. They shared 64 years of marriage until her heart was broken and life was never the same when Dad died 5 ½ years ago. Their early married life was spent in Platteville where Dad was finishing up his Ag degree. She worked in the hospital until their first child, Kevin, was born. Kevin was an awesome, caring son to Mom and her heart was broken again when he passed away from cancer exactly 8 months prior to her death.

Dad’s career took them to Danforth, IL. The Danforth years were great in terms of the final 3 of 4 kids being born there, as well as wonderful friendships that lasted a lifetime. It was hard for them to leave but the pull of farming back home in Wisconsin was strong. The family farm began in earnest in August 1972 and lasts to this day. Dad lived there all but one day at the end of his life and Mom all but these past 5 months. They often said they ‘had a good life on the farm’.

Mom loved growing up in and returning to Wiota. Some of her last memories were of times there when she was young. If nothing else, during her struggles with dementia, we could take her for a drive through Wiota and things would come back to her.

From the first ‘holiday season’ back in WI and for 29 after, Mom was a devoted employee of Swiss Colony in Monroe. She loved her seasons there because they tucked in well with farm life, the work was enjoyable and she had many great friends and relatives there.

As lifetime members of Wiota Lutheran (minus the IL break), Mom was a fixture in the kitchen for funerals, in the Deborah circle, and at sewing days. While Church was huge, church was also our social life and where so many of our lifelong friendships were made. Outside of church, work and farming, Mom enjoyed playing cards and dominoes, tending to her flower beds and garden, quilting, baking the best breads, buns and pies, traveling with friends and family, and sitting on her pergola with Dad and anyone who stopped in!

Mom cherished her family and served a million great family meals. She was a very hard-working woman. The joke is that she could have the floor mopped, buns started and a pie made before the rest of the family was even out of bed. She was Grandma, Great-Grandma or Mother-in-Law to precious many!

Mom is survived by children Peggy (Randy) Ziebarth, Tim (Julie) Shager, and Jill (Brent) Ruffridge, Kevin’s wife Pam, many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Margaret Shager and Bonnie Anderson and many close nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by Willard and Kevin, her brother Mike and her parents, and three brothers-in-law: Delbert (Jean), Chuck (Luann) and Donnie Shager.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 6, from 9:00 until 10:45 am at the Wiota Lutheran Church (6650 Highway 78, South Wayne) with the funeral following at 11:00 am with Pastor Clayton Faulkner officiating. A live stream of the service can be viewed at wiotalutheranchurch.org . Burial will be at the West Wiota Cemetery immediately after the funeral service. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com .

Memorials may be given to the Wiota Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at BeeHive in Mount Horeb, Agrace Hospice and Erickson Funeral Home.

Mavis Shager

March 16, 1937 - June 30, 2026

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