Shady Jane Szalai
Shady Jane Szalai age 89 of Menomonie, died Tuesday February 10, 2015 at Mayo Clinic-St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Shady was born April 7, 1925 in Hannah, Oklahoma to Art J. and Marie (Wilson) Macklem. She graduated from high school in 1943, in Winter, Wisconsin. Following High School, Shady began working for Douglas Aircraft in Oklahoma. She then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and began working in retail where she met and married Frank G. Szalai on April 5, 1947. Shady worked for J.C. Penney in Milwaukee and after the birth of their grandson in 1987, she retired and she and Frank relocated to Menomonie, Wisconsin to the Township of Dunn, Dunn County, rural Menomonie.
Shady taught Sunday School and volunteered at the Alliance Christian School where their grandson attended. Shady worked part time at Norge Village Cleaners for several years and made many friends. Even after she left the job, she went weekly to have coffee and enjoyed the company of the wonderful staff and customers.
Shady enjoyed Decorating Cakes, Golfing, Bowling, Ceramics, Quilting, and spending time with friends and relatives. Many people will remember her for all the ceramic gifts she created and gave away. It was always a joy for her to put little gifts on all the doors of her apartment complex for her neighbors on Christmas Eve.
Shady is survived by two sons, Frank D. (Kathleen) of Milwaukee, Jan (Virginia) of Menomonie; six grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; two brothers, Leon Macklem of Belton, TX and Daniel (Cher) Macklem of St. Mary’s, OH; a sister-n-law, Helen Macklem of Fort Atkinson, WI and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank in 1996, a brother, Arthur J. Macklem and a sister, Phoebe Gene Barber.
Memorial services will be at a later date and cards will be sent with the details. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie in the spring.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Menomonie is serving the family.