Shirley Ann Berge, a long time Mercer Island resident, passed away on June 6, 2013, in Overlake Hospital from pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.

Shirley was born to Margaret and Rudolf Zuhlke, in Syracuse, NY on Oct 8, 1930. After a few years, her parents divorced, and her mother took Shirley west to visit her sister and brother-in-law in Bellingham. They eventually moved to Seattle, in order to improve her job prospects in the depths of the Depression. Shirley attended several grade schools, and then went to Broadway for two years until it closed. While there she pledged KN and enjoyed long lasting friendships with several of her classmates. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948. She enrolled in the University of Washington, pledged Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and continued classes until tuition funds ran out. She then worked at several local businesses, including The Seattle Times.

In 1953, she was a bridesmaid for one of her sorority sisters, who had invited her cousin, Gudmund Berge, to be an usher at her wedding. Shirley and Gudmund met and the romance began. In 1955, she and Gudmund married and moved to Magnolia, where their first two children, Mark and Anne, were born. In 1961, they moved to Mercer Island’s west side, into a home designed and built by Gudmund, with Shirley selecting the interiors. Two more boys were born, Matthew and Rolfe, which made ours a full house.

After growing up as an only child of a single parent, Shirley found herself with four active children enrolled in Mercer Island schools,a decided contrast to her upbringing. She helped schedule time and provisions for our growing family to enjoy doing things together. These include camping with a tent trailer, hiking, skiing, and taking trips to many of the natural wonders of the Northwest.

Once the children were all in school, she returned to the UW to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Later, she attended Bellevue College and obtained an Interior Design degree. In her lifelong quest to gain knowledge and experience, she worked as an administrative assistant for a variety of businesses and professions. An additional opportunity she couldn’t resist was being an extra with dialog in a movie being filmed in Ballard starring Gene Hackman and Ellen Burstyn.

Gudmund and she expanded their travels as their children became more independent. She would research world destinations and handle the scheduling with their travel agent. They felt they should travel while their minds and bodies were capable of absorbing the culture and customs of different people and countries around the world. In their apartment, there is a world map that with red pins to highlight their extensive travels and serving as a reminder of the many wonderful memories experienced.

Gudmund and Shirley spent 50 years enjoying their view of Lake Washington, the Olympic Mountains, and the Blue Angels overhead from their Mercer Island home. Their patio was originally used for basketball, volleyball, and badminton, and then later reconfigured to outdoor gatherings for family and friends with pergola, BBQ, water fountain, and plantings.

Due to medical issues, Shirley and Gudmund decided to downsize to Aljoya, a retirement community on Mercer Island, in October 2011. It was her choice and she was right again. The day after their 58th wedding anniversary, she was taken to Overlake Hospital by the Mercer Island Fire Dept and eleven days later she left her loving family. Shirley will be forever remembered in her family’s and friend’s hearts for her strong devotion to her marriage and relationship with Gudmund, support and nurturing of the family, genuine caring nature for others, passion for travel, and playful sense of humor.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Gudmund; son, Mark, (New Jersey); daughter, Anne McIntosh, (Issaquah), along with son-in-law, Larry McIntosh, and grandsons, Jordan and Kyle McIntosh; son, Matt, (Frisco, Texas), along with daughter-in-law, Wendi Berge, grand daughter Brynna, and grandson, Hayden Berge; and son, Rolfe, (San Francisco, CA).

In 2007, after learning about the University of Washington’s School of Medicine Willed Body Program, Shirley said she liked the concept of using her body after death for medical or surgical teaching and research. They attended a memorial service at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery and Funeral Home for previous donors, and both agreed to enroll in the program. Shirley is now a participant in this program for the advancement of medical science and education. The memorial service there will be held in September. Private services for her will be held during the family’s annual week long vacation in Sun River, Oregon at the end of July.

You are welcome to sign Shirley’s on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com (search for Shirley Berge).