Jerry Frank Shinn May 11, 1932 – June 27, 2011
Jerry Frank Shinn, son of Doris (Craven) Shinn and George Black Shinn, was born May 11, 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa. Jerry grew up at Macksburg, Iowa and moved to Adel, Iowa where he graduated in 1950.
Jerry’s love of sports and ability to play allowed him to pitch for the Adel high school baseball team. Jerry served his country in the Naval Air Corps for four years. Following his military service, Jerry furthered his education at the University of Northern Iowa where he earned his master’s degree in physical education.
On June 22, 1952, he was united in marriage to Carol L. Eyerly at the United Methodist Church in Macksburg. Jerry taught physical education and coached at Rodman, Iowa from 1958 to 1961, Lake View-Auburn from 1961 to 1968 and then Waterloo West High from 1968 until retiring in 1995. Jerry coached baseball, assistant basketball coach, assistant football coach, and, in addition to teaching physical education, he taught drivers education. Jerry and Carol moved to Sun Valley Lake near Ellston, Iowa in 1995.
Jerry was an avid sports fan and was very involved in his children’s love for sports. He took pride in his children’s and grandchildren’s sports achievements and encouraged them as they certainly inherited his love of sports. Jerry loved to hunt, fish and play golf. He raised and trained Labrador Retrievers and personally loved the black labs the best; one black lab went on to become a national champion. He belonged to Retriever Clubs in Waterloo and Des Moines. While at Sun Valley Lake, he served on the Lake Association board and was a member of the Ellston United Methodist Church and American Legion, Emmett Liles Post 541.
Jerry passed away on June 27, 2011. He was preceded in death by his father, George Shinn; mother, Doris Warnock; stepfather, Ray Warnock; brother, Jack Shinn, and an infant brother.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Shinn of Sun Valley Lake, Iowa; daughters, Debra Jenness of Naples, Florida and Susan (Mark) Hardy of Tucson, Arizona; son, Jerry (Sue) Shinn, Jr. of Tucson, Arizona; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Gary (Beverly) Eyerly of Des Moines, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Eyerly of Eureka, Missouri and Lois (Dale) Pals of Orient, Iowa, and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Memorials are to Alzheimer’s Association and the Ellston United Methodist Church. Arrangements were through Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Services were held at the United Methodist Church in Ellston on Friday, July 1, 2011, with Rev. Phil Price officiating. Musicians were Gene Bullock and Cathy Brause.
Casket bearers included Jerry Shinn, Jr., Paul Pals, Curtis Pals, Doug Neal, Jerry Lewis, Steve Toast and Tom Thompson.
Military rites were conducted by Emmett Liles Post 541 and Iowa Honor Guard Unit.
Jerry was laid at rest in the Moon Cemetery at Macksburg.
