Junior Shankel

Junior Donovan (J.D.) Shankel, son of Elmer Donovan and Lola May Neil Shankel, was born January 7, 1922 in Hiattville, Kansas. He departed this life on Saturday, January 25, 2014, in the Osage Beach Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Osage Beach, Missouri at the age of ninety-two. On December 31, 1945 in the Kincaid Memorial Baptist Church, Girard, Kansas he was united in marriage to Opal Maudie Lane, the love of his life and from this union three sons were born. Together they shared fifty-eight years of marriage before her passing on January 9, 2004. He was also preceded in death by his parents: two brothers, Donald L. and Buford L. Shankel and two sisters, Eileen Highfield and Esther Pauline Shankel. Survivors include his three sons, Pastor Scott D. Shankel and wife Diane of Osage Beach, Missouri, Mark D. Shankel of Olathe, Kansas and Craig D. Shankel and wife Christine of Loveland, Colorado; ten grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; his three sisters Mary Madeline Gillian of Fort Scott, Kansas, Irene Lowe and husband Roger of Wichita, Kansas and Ida Mae Smith of Overland Park, Kansas; his two brothers Curtis Shankel and wife Gloria of Fort Scott, Kansas and Dean Shankel of Richmond, Illinois and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and many friends. J.D. attended and graduated from Hepler High School in the class of 1940. He served his country proudly with the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II with the 9th Armored Division Combat Engineers. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Luxenbourg, but returned to combat with his unit for the Battle for the Remagen Bridge and served with his unit till the end of the war. He received the "Purple Heart Award, the Marksmanship Badge, Good Conduct Medal and Campaign Ribbons and Battles for the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe". After returning home from the war J.D. worked for the Johnson County Water District #1 as a foreman for the Meter Repair Department and retired after 33 years. He served as the President of the National 9th Armored Combat Engineer's Association. He and his wife also served as volunteers for the Johnson County Library's "Friends of the Library" promoting reading and raising money for the library system which impacted their community. They had many close friends through both organizations. J.D. enjoyed both bowling and golfing in his spare time. J.D. and his wife Opal were members of the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village Kansas for many years. After his wife's death in 2004 he moved in with his eldest son Scott and his wife Diane to be cared for due to his declining health. He lived with them for ten years before passing. J.D. felt his greatest achievement in life was getting saved in October of 2010 when he asked Jesus Christ to be his personal Savior. The family then moved to Osage Beach, Missouri in January of 2013 to help start a new church, the Morning Star Baptist Church Lake of the Ozarks. After suffering a heart attack in October of 2013, J.D. was moved to the Osage Beach Rehabilitation and Health Center due to his declining health. While there he impacted many people's lives due to his testimony of his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He was loved by many in a short time there both staff and other residents. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he created with his family and many friends. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February 15th, 2014, at 11:00 A.M. at the Southminster Presbyterian Church at 6306 Roe Ave., Prairie Village, Kansas, 66208. Burial will follow in the church columbarium and then family and friends can all meet in the Fellowship Hall of the church to visit. Memorial donations may be made to the "Friends of the Library", at the Johnson County Library, P.O. Box 183, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201. Allee-Homan-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.