Shirley Jansen Peel

Shirley Jansen Peel, age 90 of Livonia, passed away on Friday,
December 13, 2024 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Shirley was the cherished wife and partner of John
Bush for 47 loving years. She was the beloved mother of Susan Peel, Nancy Peel, and Andy Peel and treasured grandmother of Jonathan Peel.

Shirley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the eldest of the five children of Rudolph and Marie (Brosmer) Jansen. She and her
four siblings grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana; brother Rudolph L. (Barbara) and sisters Bette Lindley, Rita King and Mary Lou Bienz (deceased). Shirley graduated from Central Catholic High School in Fort Wayne in 1952. She married Bill Peel (divorced in 1976) and moved to Taylor and later to Dearborn, Michigan. She was active in the League of Women Voters and as a result of her valuable volunteerism, Shirley was invited to Lyndon B. Johnson’s Inaugural Ball in 1965.

In 1973, as a working mother, she completed her Sociology & Political Science degree from the University of Michigan (U of M) with honors and high distinction. She worked at the registrars office at the Dearborn campus of U of M, where she met John Bush and continued her education completing a Masters degree in Public Administration in 1978. Shirley and John spent 20 years in Washington D.C., Baltimore and Virginia with careers in public service. Shirley was the Executive Officer to the Director of Civil Works for the Department of the Army (Corps of Engineers) from May 1986 through November 1998. In this role, she earned numerous commendations and was presented with the Superior Civilian Service Award and Medal for exceptionally meritorious service. The Superior Civilian Service Award is the second highest award of the Department of the Army Honorary Awards for Department of the Army Employees.

She retired in 1998 and returned to Fort Wayne, Indiana to be near her mother and sisters. Shirley volunteered at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. In 2005, Shirley and John relocated to Seattle, Washington to be close to son Andy, daughter Nancy and grandson Jonathan. They returned to Michigan in 2017. Shirley has been described as magnanimous, courageous, generous, noble, loyal, devoted, determined, selfless, modest, altruistic, intelligent, creative, a critical thinker and cynical. She was all that and much more; a confidant; a trusted caring friend; an advisor; a planner; a giver; a playful and devoted grandmother; and a protective mother bear.

Shirley loved exploring estate sales for unusual art, she collected art glass, was a voracious reader, enjoyed puzzle days with her daughters and relished participating in political discourse. Those who knew her are grateful for the life experience of being in her world.

In accordance with Shirley’s directive, she will be cremated. A
celebration of her life will be scheduled near the anniversary of

her birth in June 2025.

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