Cover photo for Shirley Zheutlin (Zheutlin)  Grekin's Obituary
Shirley Zheutlin (Zheutlin)  Grekin Profile Photo
1923 Shirley 2021

Shirley Zheutlin (Zheutlin) Grekin

September 5, 1923 — October 8, 2021

Seattle

Shirley Zheutlin Grekin was born in 1923 in Jersey City, New Jersey to loving and supportive parents, Diana and Willam Zheutlin. Shirley died on October 8th in Seattle. She is predeceased by her older brother Bertram Zheutlin (2010).

After graduating from Lincoln High School in Jersey City, she followed her brother to University of Michigan. On her first date with another young man, she met the man who was to become her husband, Robert Grekin. Graduating from the University at the age of 19, she waited for her 20th birthday to marry Bob. He was in the U.S. Army and in medical school; they remained in Ann Arbor so he could finish his specialty training in dermatology. While in Ann Arbor, they had their first two sons. In 1949, they moved to Kalamazoo, where their two younger sons were born. Except for the two years during the Korean War when Bob served in the U.S. Public Health Service, Kalamazoo was where they lived and enjoyed a happy life together.

While Bob's medical practice grew, Shirley was very busy raising their four sons and participating in many and varied community activities. She was a non-traditional student at Kalamazoo College and worked with many organizations -- the League of Women Voters, Cancer Society, Kalamazoo County Planning Commission, Kalamazoo Children's and Family Service, Medical Auxiliary, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League, and the Congregation of Moses where she and Bob were active members for many years. In addition to all that, she worked part-time in her husband's office for many years, then assisted her elderly parents when they moved to Kalamazoo and required her care.

Shirley and Bob were married for 62 happy years, with many close friends in their beloved Kalamazoo. It was an ideal place to raise their sons and they took great pride in watching them grow and mature. All four sons graduated from University of Michigan and went on to obtain their medical degrees from U of M.

Shirley and Bob traveled often throughout the world with many exciting adventures. In later years they traveled to visit their four sons and their families in Wisconsin, California, Hawai'i, and Seattle. Bob died in 2005 and in 2009, Shirley moved to Seattle, Washington, to be near her youngest son's family and her two youngest grandchildren.

In Seattle, Shirley channeled her adventuresome spirit by learning her new city with her new-found friends, riding the bus to the museums, parks, shopping, and gardens, serving as the president of her retirement community resident council, taking spanish, directing the play-reading group, and participating in book and discussion groups. She embraced long walks to stay physically and mentally healthy, proudly reporting on the day's walk. She was a voracious consumer of the news and current events, about which she engaged in detailed discussion.

Shirley cherished her family and friends, keeping in touch with everyone until the end. She is survived by her sons, David (Barbara) in Ann Arbor, Jay (Judy Stubbs) in Honolulu, Roy in Sausalito, California, and Paul (Elizabeth Flavin) in Seattle, as well as a very special friend, extra son, Felix Rasumowsky of Zurich, Switzerland. She leaves 9 grandchildren, Cortney, Sarah, Katie, Rebecca, Emily, Allison, Jeremy, Elam, and Asa, 11 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Vaccinated and masked friends and family are welcome to join us for services on Friday October 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial and Cremation Services, 622 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007, with Rabbi Harvey Spivak officiating, interment at Jewish Riverside Cemetery. To view Shirley's Personalized guestbook, please visit https://www.langelands.com

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Shirley's memory be made to Emily's List (emilyslist.org) or the Kalamazoo Humane Society (kazoohumane.org)


To order memorial trees in memory of Shirley Zheutlin (Zheutlin) Grekin, please visit our tree store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Funeral Service

Friday, October 15, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, Memorial Chapel

622 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

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