Shirley Ann Pretasky

LA CROSSE - Shirley Ann Pretasky, 94, of La Crosse passed away peacefully at Bethany Riverside on January 1, 2024.

She was born June 30, 1929, to Julius and Clara Platz (Young) in La Crosse, WI. Shirley was the eldest of 5 children. Her father, Julius, was a colonel in the army and she spent a few years of her childhood living on army bases in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Massachusetts before her family returned to La Crosse when her father was sent to Europe during WWII. She attended Holy Trinity Catholic School and graduated from Aquinas High School

Shirley met Robert (Bob) Pretasky in 1945 and they were married on October 5, 1949, at St. Thomas More Church in La Crosse. Together they had seven children. They lived in the La Crosse area all their lives and were members of Holy Trinity Parish.

Shirley's first job after high school was as a clerk at her Platz's Selrite Grocery store, owned by her parents, on the corner of South and West Avenue. After marrying Bob, she was a homemaker raising her seven children. Shirley later became Bob's business partner and together they owned and operated La Crosse Glove Company (later called La Crosse Glove and Luggage and eventually La Crosse Leather & Fur) for 50 years in downtown La Crosse. After retirement, Shirley and Bob were some of the very first tenants of Eagle Crest North.

Shirley loved to sing and was a past member of the church choir. She loved her flower garden and as a Packer season ticket holder, going to games at Lambeau Field. Shirley and Bob enjoyed spending summers at their camper on the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Alma, WI for years. Her favorite vacations were her three trips with Bob to Hawaii, especially the one celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

Shirley is survived by her seven children: son Dan Pretasky of Holmen; son Mike (Barb) Pretasky of Mindoro; daughter Judy (Scott) Schnell of La Crosse; son Chris (Deb) Pretasky of Onalaska; daughter Cheri (Dean) Wilhelm of La Crosse; son Greg Pretasky of La Crosse; and son Robb (Sue) Pretasky of La Crosse; along with her 16 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. She is further survived by sister Sally Renstrom of La Crosse; brother Jim (Norma) Platz of Onalaska; sister Nancy Harris of Alexandria, VA; and brother Roy (Carol) of Naperville, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob and her parents.

A private family funeral service will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at both Gundersen Hospice and Riverside Transitional Care for taking such good care of mom.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.