John "Jack E. Shimp

John E. (Jack) Shimp, age 93 of Savanna, Illinois, died on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center North in Clinton, Iowa. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna, with Father Dennis Atto as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. A memorial gathering will be held from 3:30-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, with a Scripture Wake Service held at 3:00 p.m., prior to the memorial gathering at the funeral home. Cremation rites have been accorded. Memorials may be given to the American Kidney Association and the American Heart Association in Jack’s memory.
Jack was born January 22, 1920 in Naperville, Illinois, the son of Robert and Antoinette (Kreger) Shimp. He was educated in Naperville schools, excelled in sports, played football and participated in track for four years of high school. Jack graduated from the University of Dubuque in 1946, where he was a varsity football player for four years. He served in the armed forces for four years during World War II, where he taught physical education to Air Force Cadets and was a member of the SAACC Air Force Swimming and Diving Team.
Jack married Elizabeth A. Goodmann on February 18, 1942 at Saint Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois. Betty passed away on January 30, 2002. He began his teaching career in Blairstown, Iowa where he also coached girls’ basketball and boys’ baseball. Jack moved to Savanna, Illinois in 1949 where he was a teacher and coach of football, basketball and track in Savanna schools retiring in 1980 after thirty-three years of teaching. He became an avid golfer after retirement and was also known for his preference for the Green Bay Packers. Jack was a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Northeast Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame and National Teachers Hall of Fame.
Jack will be dearly missed by his daughters, Judith A. (Alfred) Gatena of Dubuque, Iowa, Deborah Shurts of Asbury, Iowa; grandsons, Steven Presley of Dubuque, John R. (Kelly) Presley of Dubuque, Jordan A. Shurts of Asbury; great grandsons, Michael, Matt and Thomas Presley of East Dubuque, Illinois; a sister, Thelma Brown of Crystal Lake, Illinois; many nieces and nephews.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife Betty; sisters, Rita Marian and Anna Mae Shimp; a brother, Robert Shimp; brother-in-law, Donald Brown and a beloved son-in-law, David Shurts.