John Shaw

A funeral service for Mr. John Shaw of Milford will take place Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Union Memorial Church in Milford, Iowa. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Iowa. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. John Benton Shaw, the son of Grace Margret Mammen and John G. Shaw, was born April 6, 1927 in Clarkfield, Minnesota. He graduated from Spencer High School and also received his BS Degree from Iowa State University in 1951. John served in the United States Army with the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion attached to the 24th Division. On July 30, 1949 John was united in marriage to Ellen Lee Heikens. The couple made their home on a farm in Excelsior Township, where they raised their children, Debra Lynn, Terri Lee, and Ryan Jay. John was a grain and livestock farmer for over forty years. After retirement, the couple moved into Milford. John was an active member of the Union Memorial Church since 1972. He was a charter member of Kiwanis and a member of the Milford Airport Board. His love of flying began at an early age and he received his private pilot's license at the age of eighteen. He became a Master Mason in December, 1954 and was a past Master of the Silver Lake Lodge #527 in December, 1960. He was recognized as a 50 year Mason in December, 2004. John passed away October 28, 2014 at Spencer Municipal Hospital in Spencer, Iowa at eighty-seven years of age. He is survived by his children; Debra (Bill) Davis of Acton, Massachusetts, Terri (Darrell) Christensen of Dakota City, Iowa and Ryan (Cindy) Shaw of Milford; sister, Janet Adams; very special friend, Marilyn Bates. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ellen; sister Jackie Hall and brother, James Shaw.