Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Shirley Wagner died on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the age of 95 and in her seventy-fourth year of her religious profession, at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Born in Halder, Wisconsin, Sister Shirley’s passion for music blossomed in seventh grade when she played with St. Mary’s High School Band in Marathon, Wisconsin. After professing final vows with FSPA in 1956, her achievements of both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music education took her to teach elementary, high school and college students, as well as members of community symphonies throughout Wisconsin and Iowa, for more than 30 years. At times she served as a guest conductor for The New York Philharmonic orchestra. After retiring Sister Shirley served as a pastoral minister and associate in Minnesota and Wisconsin before becoming an internationally-renowned intarsia woodworking artist. She will be remembered for her ministries of music and art, her direct nature of speaking and her love for life, which she did to the fullest. To read more about Sister Shirley’s life and ministry, visit FSPA Obituaries.
In loving memory: Sister Shirley Wagner
