Shirley Ann (Seil, Harrison) Laske, 97, of Middletown, RI passed away on July 21, 2025 in Newport, RI.
Shirley was born in Milwaukee, WI on May 18, 1928. She and her parents, Dala Frances Harrison, and Chester Thomas Harrison, resided in Waldo, WI. Shirley attended school at Waldo Elementary School and Waldo High School, where she graduated in May, 1945. In later years, Shirley attended the University of Rhode Island where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in June, 1981, having completed a double major in English and History.
Shirley married Robert Marion Laske on April 28, 1951; she and Bob were married for 71 years, until he passed away on May 28, 2022.
Shirley was a wonderful, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and Robert often hosted or visited their grown children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren for many happy family occasions.
Shirley is survived by her children, Kimberly (Robert) Springer, Lisa (David Mendrek) Laske, Laura (Laske) Montanaro and Kurt Laske (Sue Shea, companion). She is survived by nine grandchildren: Elizabeth and Paul Springer, Allison (Aidan Renaghan) Springer; Mark (Maureen) Mendrek-Laske, Alexandra Mendrek-Laske, Michael (Tracy King) Mendrek-Laske; Nicole, Jessica, and Dale Montanaro. She is survived by six great-grandchildren: Michael, Robert, Finnigan and Evelyn Mendrek-Laske, Leo Cormac and Siobhan Renaghan. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth (Harrison) Diamond.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Dala Frances (Doherty, Seil) Harrison and Chester Thomas Harrison and her siblings, Chester Harrison Jr. and William Harrison.
As a youngster, Shirley was active in school and community events. Tap dancing was popular in the ‘30s and ‘40s; she, together with two cousins and a friend, performed at local events. She loved indoor roller skating. She was a member in Campfire girls and 4H. She played clarinet in the high school band, was a cheerleader and active in sports.
Between 1945 and 1951, Shirley worked in Milwaukee — first for the Army Corps of Engineers and later the Veterans Administration. She spent time traveling across the USA and Canada with her girlfriends and cousin Elizabeth (Posey) Doherty. Over the years, travel was an important activity in her life.
Upon her 1951 marriage to Robert Laske, Shirley began her life as the spouse of a career naval officer. She and Bob lived near naval bases in California, Washington, Texas, Virginia, Rhode Island (twice) and Morocco, before settling down to raise their family in Middletown, RI. During Bob’s flying career, he was often deployed overseas, during such times Shirley managed their home and their four children. When Bob was at home, she organized events with military and neighborhood friends. She served as a girl scout leader for her daughters’ (Lisa and Laura) troops. She served as a Red Cross volunteer at the Naval Hospital in Newport. She served on the board for the Swinburne School of Household Arts in Newport.
Shirley was an avid baker of all sorts of treats, but her all-time favorite recipe, adored by her family and friends, was her brownies.
Bob taught Shirley to play golf, and she quickly became an avid golfer, with two holes-in-one to prove her skill. At Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club, she served as President of the Wanumetonomy Women’s Golf Association, where she assisted new club members meet and play golf with other members. She loved to meet new people, welcome them, and put them at ease. Shirley was the Rhode Island Senior Women’s Golf champion for one year and the runner-up the following year. She served for three years on the board of the Rhode Island Women’s Golf Association.
When Bob retired from the Navy in 1975, Shirley and Robert began many years of travel to the Pensacola, FL area for the winter. While in Florida, golf was a major part of their shared activity and playing bridge was a significant part of her social activity. They formed a group of golfers with other snowbirds. Throughout the rest of the year, Bob and Shirley visited Turkey, Chile and much of Europe together. And, of course, they often returned to Wisconsin to see friends and family.
Shirley had a life-long passion for reading, even as her eyesight faded. She was an avid bridge player, playing bridge at the Middletown Senior Center, the Newport King Senior Center and at the Orange Beach, Alabama Senior Center while in the Florida Panhandle.
As a devout Catholic, Shirley attended mass regularly, including while traveling. Her home parish is St. Lucy’s in Middletown. She and Bob proudly displayed a congratulatory letter from the Providence Diocese for their 70th wedding anniversary in 2021.
The Laske family would like to thank both the doctors and staff of Village House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Newport and Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice in Middletown for their expert hospice care and comfort given to both Robert & Shirley.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Laske and Shirley Laske will be held on Saturday, September 27, at St. Lucy’s Church, 909 W. Main Road, Middletown at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Browns Ln, Middletown, along with Military Funeral Honors for Robert Laske.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in their names to St. Lucy’s Church, 909 W. Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842, Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, 438 E. Main Rd. #100, Middletown, RI 02842 and/or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/.