Shirley Grace Stilwell

Shirley (Strissel) Stilwell was born in Joliet, Illinois to Harry and Muriel Strissel on August 22, 1932, and was promoted to glory on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from Clearwater, Florida. She was 94 years old.

Shirley's parents were Salvation Army officers. Shirley came to faith in Jesus while she was young. She was introduced to Marcus Stilwell by mutual friends Barbara and Howard Crowell. Marc and Shirley went to church together at The Salvation Army St. Louis Broadway Temple Corps where she served as the corps secretary and Marc was serving on a Navy submarine. Marc was requested to extend his tour of duty for six months to go on a submarine around the world. When he asked if he should go, Shirley told Marc she wasn’t going to make that decision for him. Marc informed his commanding officer that he wasn’t going. At that time, the Suez Canal was blocked by a sunken ship, and the submarine could not get through, so the submarine never made it around the world. Marc and Shirley were another story.

Marc and Shirley married on March 2, 1957, and enjoyed 69 years together. In 1959 Shirley and Marc answered the Lord’s call to be Salvation Army Officers while doing their morning devotions. Shirley and Marc were commissioned as officers in 1960. Shirley served alongside her husband Marc in Corps, Adult Rehabilitation Centers, Divisional Headquarters, and Territorial Headquarters in the Central and Southern Territories. Marc and Shirley retired to Clearwater, Florida in 2000.

While serving at her various appointments, Shirley was thoughtful, kind, warm, and dearly loved. Her faith was at the center of her life. Her love for God showed through her sweet spirit. She was a shepherd to others–sending cards, offering encouragement, having loving conversations, and showing people that they mattered.

Shirley could be wonderfully competitive, especially when playing games. She loved all kinds of sports, whether playing basketball in her youth or watching sports later in life. She loved to make people laugh and was always telling jokes. She was strong and confident in herself. She was a gifted administrator and shepherd, especially when organizing events. Even in retirement, she organized dining out with friends from the Clearwater Corps. What made her work as a Salvation Army officer so meaningful, was that it was a calling to the Lord’s work–it was never simply a job or a title. It was a reflection of her lifelong journey with Jesus. Her service was an extension of God’s hand on her life.

This is the legacy she leaves behind: a godly woman, a servant, a leader, and a beautiful soul who loved God and dearly loved people.

She is survived by her beloved husband Marc; children Larry (Denise) Stilwell, and Lana (Rick) Vogeney. She is also survived by her grandchildren Rachel (Dan) Parker, Benjamin (Kelsey) Vogeney, Lt. Joseph Vogeney USN, Luke (Veronica) Stilwell, and by her great grandchildren Kinley, Dawsyn, Tucker and Briggs Vogeney, and Wynnie Parker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Brigadiers Harry and Muriel Strissel, siblings Miriam Hambridge, Stanley Strissel, and grandson Christian Stilwell.