Shirley B. (Bommer) Spriegel

SPRIEGEL, Shirley B. (nee:  Bommer)

Of Tonawanda Twp., December 21, 2021

Cherished wife of 62 years to the late Clyde L. Spriegel; loving mother of Jeffrey (Kim), Andrew (Beth), Charlotte (Jack) Huebschmann and Craig (Jane) Spriegel; survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sister of the late Bruce (Linda) Bommer and Late Raymond (Priscilla) Bommer; also survived by nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at Kenmore United Methodist Church 32 Landers Rd, Kenmore, Friday, June 17, at 11:00 AM.  Please meet at church.  

Memorial contributions to Kenmore United Methodist Church are preferred.

She was born and raised in the Kenmore and Town of Tonawanda area.  She was the daughter of Charlotte and Raymond Bommer.  She received her Bachelor and Master Degree from Buffalo State College. 

                 In 1952 she married Clyde Spriegel and they settled in Kenmore to raise their four children, Jeffrey (Kim) Spriegel, Andrew (Beth) Spriegel, Charlotte (Jack) Huebschmann and Craig (Jane) Spriegel.  They were married 62 years before her husband predeceased her in 2014.

                Shirley was employed by the Ken-Ton School System for 37 years, teaching First and Pre-First grades.  Her twenty years of teaching Pre-First grade convinced her of the need for hands-on experience, a multi-modality approach to teaching and learning.  It also emphasized the importance of developmental stages in childhood growth and the critical importance of helping children achieve self-esteem.

                She received recognition for her work with kids. She received “Educator of the Year” from Canisius College, the “Outstanding Service to Youth” Award by the Tonawanda Youth Board, and an Honorary PTA Life Membership awarded by the Washington-Longfellow PTA.

                She was a Charter Member of the Town of Tonawanda Youth Board and she was named to “Who’s Who in American Education.  Shirley developed “Eyes-On, Hands-On, Minds-On” Science kits for the Kenmore Teacher Center.  With her daughter, she was a presenter at the National Science Teacher Conventions in Boston and Kansas City.

                After retiring from the Ken-Ton Schools, she taught in the Elementary Education Department at Buffalo State College for ten years.  She has published two books, Getting Ready to Read and Math Practice for Beginners.

                For 27 years, Shirley was co-owner of Heirloom Woodcrafting with her husband, Clyde.  They made wooden accessories they sold at Arts and Crafts shows.  She was a lifetime member of Kenmore United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School there for 26 years and volunteered at their Vacation Bible School.

                She stayed active in her retirement playing in the Brighton Tuesday Golf League and being a Chaperone at the Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House in Buffalo.

                She enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Piecemakers of Kenmore Methodist making charity quilts and the Kenmore Quilters Patch.  When vacationing in Largo, Florida she was part of the Largo Cracker Quilters.

Shirley felt her greatest achievement was her 4 wonderful children.  

Please send Condolences to, www.GinnaneFuneralHome.com

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