Shirley Jo Jaeger

Shirley Darling Jaeger was born the daughter of Joe Russell and Ellen Mae Darling on October 29, 1932 in Englewood, Colorado. The family lived in Englewood and later Cheyenne, Wyoming where Shirley attended school.  The family moved to Missouri for several years during which Shirley graduated first from high school and later from Business School.

 Upon her return to Colorado Shirley entered Colorado State University then known as Colorado A&M in pursuit of her teaching degree.  Shirley did her student teaching at Idalia, Colorado where she later taught second grade.  During this time she met Eugene Jaeger and the two discovered a lifelong love between themselves.  Shirley and Eugene were married on Decembrer 26, 1952 at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Englewood, Colorado.  Shirley and Eugene's honeymoon was a six week car tour of Mexico and the American Southwest and, upon their return they settled in Joes, Colorado.

During the next 36 years Shirley and Eugene farmed in the Cope area, and during this time Shirley gave birth to a son, John in 1954 and a daughter, Julie in 1956.  The family moved to Yuma, Colorado in 1959 .  While Eugene did the farming Shirley took care of the family home and raised her children in Yuma. 

In 1990 Eugene passed away and Shirley continued to live in Yuma.  Both had been members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Otis, Colorado and, after Eugene's death Shirley continued to attend regularly until she entered Parish Care in 2012.  In 2014, Shirley moved to MacKenzie Place in Fort Collins, Colorado where she lived for the rest of her life until her passing on January 31, 2016.

Shirley is survived her son, John Jaeger and his wife Shannon Jaeger, her daughter Julie Hansen and her husband Rick Hansen, by her grandchildren including Mason Hansen and his wife Kelly Hansen, and Carmen Hansen, and by Lucien Jaeger.  Shirley is also survived by great grandchildren Shiloh Hansen, Caleb Hansen, and Lucas Hansen.

Shirley was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, and wife and mother-in-law who lived her life with grace, dignity, and a love of  Christ.  Those who knew her and loved her will miss her dearly.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 6th at 10:00 am at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Otis, Colorado.  The ceremony will be officiated by Reverend Scott Bieker and the funeral will be directed by the Baucke Funeral Home.  Shirley will be laid to rest next to her loving husband Eugene and her parents Joe and Mae Darling at the Yuma Cemetery.