Frank Shaw, Jr. Print

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White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644


INDEPENDENCE – Frank Shaw, Jr., 82 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Wednesday, September 2, 2015, at his home in Independence.  He was born on April 16, 1933, in Independence, the son of Frank William and Viola Helen (Wenthe) Shaw.  He graduated from high school in Independence with the Class of 1951 and then he graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in 1959.  He also graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in Athens, Georgia.  During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Army.  Later he was a member of the Iowa National Guard.  He was the Post Commander in Oelwein when he transferred to the Army Reserve.  He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 410th Infantry Battalion in Iowa City when he retired in 1993.

On November 15, 1959, he and the former Mary Ellen Nail were married in Webster City, Iowa.  She preceded him in death in 2010.  Mr. Shaw started his career as a newspaper carrier.  He and his wife were the owners and operators of Shaw Skelgas and Shaw Plumbing and Heating in Independence.  They retired in 1999.  Mr. Shaw was a member of the Bechter-Boise V.F.W. Post #2440, the Sheehan-Tidball American Legion Post #30, the Independence Lions Club, and the Shysters.  He was formerly a member of the Buchanan County Planning and Zoning Board, the Buchanan County Credit Union Board, and the Independence Senior Center Board.  He was also involved with the Cub Scouts and he was an Eagle Boy Scout.  He was a greeter at East Elementary in Independence and was inducted into the Independence Area Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2011.

He enjoyed flying his airplane, sail boating, traveling, the Military, and he was usually surrounded by his family, grandchildren, and friends.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Penny (Rory) Payne of Alta, Iowa, and Cindy (Kevin) Freeman of Overland Park, Kansas, 1 son, Frank M. Shaw of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1 daughter-in-law, Devin Shaw of Cedar Falls, 8 grandchildren, Ashlea, Bradley, Haley, Faith, Delaney, Carley, Presley, and Dawson, and 2 great grandchildren, Lily and Hudson.  He is also survived by his significant other, JoAnn Bantz of Fairbank, Iowa, 1 brother, Ross Shaw of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, 1 sister, Helen Yundt of Vinton, Iowa, and 1 sister-in-law, Olive May (Darrel) Weber of Ames, Iowa.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, 1 son, Dave Shaw, 1 sister, Loretta White Rudneck, 1 sister-in-law, Barb Shaw, and 1 brother-in-law, Charles Yundt.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2015, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence.  Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3rd, at the White Funeral Home in Independence where a Military Service begins at 7 p.m.