BURLINGAME, Kan. – Shirley Jean (Shoemaker) Buek, 82, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born Nov. 22, 1942, in Lawrence, Kan., the daughter of Virgil Shoemaker and Florence (Postma) Shoemaker.
Shirley graduated from Lawrence High School with the class of 1960. She later graduated from Clark School of Business, Topeka, Kan.
Shirley was united in marriage to Gary M. Buek, on May 1, 1965, in Perry, Kan. They shared more than 56 years of marriage before Gary’s passing on Feb. 9, 2022.
Shirley was a secretary for several life insurance companies in Topeka. She was a farm wife, who helped with the day to day operations on the family farm for many years while also raising a family and working.
Shirley was a devoted member of the Burlingame Federated Church and had a strong faith in God. She will be remembered for her loving and caring personality; her “gift of gab” and being a people pleasing person. Shirley was a great cook – her family will always remember her homemade pies and her burnt sugar ice cream.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Florence Shoemaker; husband, Gary; and two brothers, William “Bill” Shoemaker and Robert “Bob” Shoemaker.
Surviving family includes a daughter, Pam Sims and husband, Jerry, of Canton, Ga.; four sons, Richard Buek, Topeka, John Buek, Burlingame, William Buek, Topeka, and Ret. Lt. Col. Brad Buek and wife, Melissa, Acworth, Ga.; a sister-in-law, Lucille Shoemaker, Auburn, Kan.; and 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
To celebrate Shirley’s life, a funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Federated Church, 322 S. Topeka Ave., Burlingame. Interment will follow at the Burlingame Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 503 S. Topeka Ave., Burlingame.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Federated Church of Burlingame, and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 194, Burlingame, KS 66413. Condolences can be left at www.lamb-roberts.com.
