Shirley Rosenberger

It’s with great sadness that the family of Shirley Rosenberger announces her passing on July 15, 2025 at the age of 93. Shirley was born to Clara and Joe Felknor of Lafayette, IN on February 21, 1932.

Growing up in West Lafayette offered excellent educational options including graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree. After marrying John Rosenberger, Shirley moved to Norfolk, VA to teach and be a Navy wife. A couple years later, they moved to Middletown, OH which turned into a 60 year adventure.

Shirley had many careers during her lifetime including elementary school teacher in Norfolk, VA, mother, homemaker, children’s librarian at the Middletown Library, Meals on Wheels associate in Middletown, OH, Social Worker at Kettering Convalescence Center, and Program and Building Manager at Arts of Middletown for 19 years! She retired at the young age of 70!

During her children, Amy and Joe’s, young lives, she did many volunteer jobs helping with Babysitter’s Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTO, church activities at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, AAUW, and a host of others.

Shirley was very involved with her children and grandchildren’s lives often babysitting, driving them to all their activities, attending sporting and musical events, graduations, and holiday and birthday celebrations. All 6 grandkids loved her visits.

Her senior years had her moving to Centerville, OH to live closer to Amy and her family. Shirley moved to an independent living cottage at St. Leonard Retirement Community where she resided for 10 years. She could be seen walking on campus every day for 6 years for at least a mile no matter the weather or time of day, often late at night. Shirley made many, many friends at St Leonard’s and was very active there.

As much as family and work mattered, Shirley was also surrounded by a host of friends. She would quickly make friends in any where she went. She also had many interests including reading, walking, watching old and new movies, British TV, music, talking on the phone and she even learned to stream on her TV. She loved visiting libraries and had library cards for over 10 area libraries and their many branches!

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Amy Schomburg (John) of Centerville, OH; son, Joe Rosenberger (Liz) of Richland, MI; brother, Jerry Felknor (Cathy); grandchildren, Erik Schomburg (Kate) of Brooklyn, NY; Louise Rosenberger Diemer (Pete) of Mocksville, NC; Heidi Bramlage-Schomburg (Rachelle) of Buckner, KY; John Rosenberger (Victoria) of S. Charleston, SC; Andrew Rosenberger of Richland, MI; and Peter Schomburg (Sarah) of Kettering, OH. Shirley was also so happy to enjoy her 9 great-grandkids, Ethan, Carter, Elizabeth, Eli, Beckett, Lucy, Rose, Violet, and Myron.

The family will celebrate Shirley’s life in her hometown of West Lafayette, IN in the near future.

One of Shirley’s favorite things was telling stories. She would tell her friends stories about her family, and tell her family stories about her friends. She literally lived a storied life!