CREDIT: Laird Family Funeral Services

Former civic leader, newspaper woman and U-46 School Board member, Shirley Mae Westerbeck Rauschenberger, 88, died in Elgin, on Dec. 15, 2014. She was 88 years old.

Graduating from Elgin High School during WWII, Shirley’s first job was with the Chicago Daily News as a copy “girl.” It was the only time she lived away from Elgin. After her “beau,” John, was discharged from Army service overseas, she returned to to her hometown where they married in 1946.

As a mother of six, Shirley was a firm believer in volunteer service to enhance her community. Her interests were broad, and her leadership skills were welcomed; she served on boards of the YWCA, YMCA, Episcopal Churchwomen, Boy Scouts, Sybaquay Council of the Girls Scouts, the Salvation Army, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce.

One of the founders of The Open Door Clinic, Shirley was elected to the U-46 School Board, where she served for 12 years. In addition, she was a strong support to her husband in Rauschenberger Furniture, the family business, and a great backer of all of her children’s sports and activities. She was also a foster parent, a scout leader, an election judge and a precinct committeewoman. She ran for the state legislature as well as the Kane County Board,and she remained passionately dedicated to the causes she believed to the end of her life

She was accorded many community honors over the years, including the Cosmopolitan Distinguished Service Award and the Altrusa Woman of the Year Award.

She was honored by the Illinois State Office of Public Instruction as the outstanding parent of the region, and was honored in 2008 by the Elgin Township Republicans for her leadership and longstanding political activism. As her children grew independent, Shirley resumed her career. She began doing advertising and marketing for Chuck Hines Store for Men, advanced to Spiess Department Store, later was an officer at Ackemann’s Furniture Store.

Returning to newspaper work, Shirley was also one of the first editors of the Elgin Free Press, which became the Elgin Herald. After retiring, she remained active in political campaigns, especially her son Steve’s campaigns for state Senate.

She was known for her love of cooking, entertaining and hospitality. Shirley (Ahya) was the beloved matriarch of her family, and took great pride in the activities, travels and diversity of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters, Laurel Kracen (Don Getts) Tucson, AZ. and Carol Rauschenberger (Reid Travis) Elgin; as well as four sons, John K. Rauschenberger Jr., Chicago; Thomas Rauschenberger; Steven Rauschenberger (Betty) ; Keith Rauschenberger (Cindy) all of Elgin. She was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren: Amanda Kracen, Elizabeth Kracen, Melissa Rauschenberger, John. Rauschenberger III, Emilee Rauschenberger, Joe Rauschenberger, Zoe Travis, Bopha Travis, Sam Rauschenberger, Michael Rauschenberger, Henry Rauschenberger, Kacy Rauschenberger, Karl Rauschenberger and 12 great-grandchildren. Shirley also was very important to extended family members Scott Kracen and Dawn Marcom.

Memorial visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin. Services and burial will be private. For information 847-741-8800 or www.lairdfamilyfuneralservices.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (www.girlscoutsni.org/give), Boys Scouts Three Fires Council (www.threefirescouncil.org), or St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, for the Relics group, whose outreach projects Shirley was very involved in during the last years of her life.

SOURCE: Laird Family Funeral Services

• Editor’s Note: Kane County Connects welcomes obituaries of prominent people in Kane County. For more information, contact Outreach Coordinator Rick Nagel at nagelrick@co.kane.il.us.