Shirley A. Kubly, age 87, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on October 22, 2022. Born May 31st, 1935, Shirley grew up in Chicago surrounded by pets including a collie, fish, parakeets, and a fox terrier, which was the beginning of a lifelong love for animals. She graduated from North Park Academy high school at age sixteen and then attended Wilber Wright College. Having lived all over Chicago’s north side, she was a Cubs baseball fan and always had a special affinity for the city of Chicago. She was a hard and creative worker, earning her own way from age sixteen and had many jobs including a nurse’s assistant at Northwestern Hospital, retail store salesperson, receptionist, secretary, and an executive assistant.
After she married Pat Kubly on August 3rd, 1963, dreams of living on a farm became a reality for Shirley when she and Pat purchased a farm just outside of Monroe, Wisconsin. On the farm she stabled, trained, and showed saddle bred horses. In addition to horses, she had six ducks, a cow, rabbits, Great Danes and three cats! With the impending birth of their son Ryan, they moved Monroe in 1969, where she helped start a pre-school and became active in the community. She was active in the Monroe Jaycees and Jaycettes, where she served as vice president and president. She chaired the Women’s Club, served on the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Monroe Arts Board. Shirley’s love for children and people found her volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, a Cub scout leader, an aid for children with cerebral palsy, a camp counselor and a pre-school teacher’s assistant and for the Dane County Advocates for Battered Women. She was also a lifelong director of The Swiss Colony (now Colony Brands) where she was especially active in the early years in researching new product ideas.
A free spirit who always had a positive attitude, she loved to hike, bike and explore new cultures. A woman of many talents and hobbies, she was very active and played tennis, ran, rode horses, practiced yoga and other forms of exercise. She especially loved traveling and meeting new people. She traveled over the world including Africa, India, and Thailand where she enjoyed riding Asian elephants from village to village and spending time with the people there.
She was a real lover of animals and was someone with a special gift of “clicking” with animals. She wanted to help people, especially children, to appreciate animals, domestic and wild. “It filled a passion in me,” she said. She spent time helping to educate the public about animals, the need to save species and habitats and to increase awareness for the humane treatment of animals. A long-time volunteer at the Madison, Wisconsin Vilas Zoo, she first became involved with the zoo in 1992, working for the education program, then joined the Zoological Society Board of Directors in 1999. She took on many responsibilities early, including organizing a history exhibit in the new Visitor Center. Later she was a driving force in shaping and getting the Polar Bear Exhibit and facility constructed at the Vilas Zoo. As part of her travels, she always enjoyed visiting other zoos to bring back new ideas for improving Vilas Zoo. She was also a member and volunteer at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, in Palm Desert, California.
She is survived by her husband Pat; son Ryan; nephew Mike (Nan) O’Berem; great nephew Chris (Holly) & great-great-nephew Fletcher O’Berem; She was preceded in death by her parents Clifford & Virginia; brother Dale and nephew Mitch.
A private celebration of life will be held at a future date. The Kubly family wishes to express their overwhelming gratitude for the wonderful caregivers of Tracy Teske’s Visiting Angels Madison. Every day for more than two years, numerous Visiting Angels caregivers were with Shirley day and night, keeping her not just safe, but also brightening her spirit. A special thanks to Ted Teske for his patient and caring support. Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family.
