Shirley M. Bucher (née Tolzman)

Shirley M. Bucher, née Tolzman, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the age of 88.

Shirley was born on June 15, 1938, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Fred and Helen Tolzman. She was the second oldest of 11 children and grew up surrounded by a large family that remained incredibly important to her throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold and Wayne, and her sister, Barbara. Her surviving siblings, Joanne, Karen, Fritz, Jerry, Nancy, David, Bette Jane and their spouses, held special places in her heart. Shirley was also very close to her many nieces and nephews, who were an important part of her life.

Shirley married Michael F. Bucher, and together they shared 51 years of marriage before his passing on February 20, 2021. Their life together was filled with family, friendships, neighborhood gatherings, and plenty of memories.

Shirley was the proud mother of two children, Jean Bucher Miller and William (Bill) Bucher (Julia Preston Bucher), and a loving grandmother to Emily and Luke, who lovingly called her “Grandma B.” She also had a special fondness for her beloved cocker spaniels over the years.

Before getting married, Shirley worked at Milwaukee Plastics, where she met Jeanne, who would become her lifelong best friend and mentor. It was after a second shift at work, while out enjoying a night at a local bar with Jeanne, that Shirley met Mike. The rest, as they say, is history! Just 11 months after their wedding, Shirley became a mother, and 11 months after that, their family grew again. She devoted herself to raising her children as a stay-at-home mom while also taking on part-time weekend jobs to help make ends meet.

Eventually, Shirley began working in food service at Marquette University, where her excellent work and dedication earned her several awards and recognition. She took great pride in her work and became especially well known for her delicious homemade soups, which were a favorite among the college students.

Shirley enjoyed gardening, both vegetables and flowers, and spent countless hours preserving her harvest through canning. She was also an independent, get-it-done kind of woman who wasn’t afraid to fire up a grill or tackle the snowblower long before other women on the block would even think about it!

Shirley and Mike loved their neighbors and enjoyed many memorable gatherings over the years, including some pretty wild parties! She shared a particularly close friendship with neighbor Diane Breunig and, later, Diane’s husband, Kendall Breunig. Together, they enjoyed traveling to Alaska, weekends in Minocqua, Green Bay Packers games, and many other fun outings and adventures.

Music was another of Shirley’s loves. She was a devoted fan of both Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley. In fact, she was particularly unhappy that Elvis passed away on her wedding anniversary! Her favorite Neil Diamond song was “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and she made sure her nieces, Patty and Susie, promised to have it played at her Celebration of Life.

A lifelong Milwaukee Brewers fan, Shirley was fortunate enough to live to see her beloved Brewers win the World Series, a moment that brought her tremendous joy.

Above all, Shirley treasured her family, friends, and the home she loved. She was deeply grateful for the family members and neighbors who helped her remain in her home for as long as possible. Their kindness, generosity, and support meant more to her than words could express.

Shirley will be remembered for her independence, hard work, sense of humor, love of family, and the many special memories she created with those around her. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

A private family interment will take place, followed by a Celebration of Life. Invitations and additional details will be forthcoming.