Shirley E. Ruhlig, age 89, of Dexter, Michigan passed away at her home surrounded by family on January 24, 2025.
She was born the daughter of Fred and Lillian (Dubke) Tyer on November 24, 1935. On February 19, 1955, she married Martin Ruhlig, Jr. who preceded her in death. They met and lived in Romulus before moving to Dexter in 1967, where they were wholesale farmers at the Detroit Eastern Market prior to opening Ruhlig’s Country Market in 1979.
Shirley loved being a farmer; you could find her on her Cub cultivating fields all day long. Shirley spent time in the off-season planting flowers, playing cards, and taking bus trips with her sister. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Shirley was a charter member and longtime altar guild member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea. She was most recently a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. Shirley and Martin were longtime members of Farm Bureau and they hosted many gatherings for them.
Shirley is survived by her children: Martin (Ann) Ruhlig III; Daniel (Teka) Ruhlig; and Nancy Ruhlig; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren'; and her son-in-law, Bill (Beth) Lahrman. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Diane Lahrman, and her sister, Hilda (Alfred) Block.
The funeral service will be at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Bill Lahrman officiating. The visitation will be Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family or to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor.
