John Shanks

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- John Shanks, 90, of Bloomfield went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, April 12, 2015.

A celebration of life and funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield. The Rev. Jim Matthews will officiate, with the Rev. Jerry Darby assisting.

Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren.

His family will receive friends at the church from 9 a.m. until time of service.

John married his love of more than 69 years, Connie Fesmire, on Dec. 22, 1945, in Blytheville, Arkansas.

He retired from SEMO Electric as a lineman. He was a longtime faithful and active member of First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, and an active member of the American Legion in Bloomfield. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening.

John was a World War II veteran and served in Germany with Gen. Patton's 3rd Army.

His grandchildren affectionately called him Papaw while his great-grandchildren lovingly called him Old Papaw. His life was his family, and he always had the time to teach them to fish.

John is survived by his wife, Connie Shanks of Bloomfield; a daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Tony Burdine of Bloomfield; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Mary Shanks of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren, Anthony Shanks of Akron, Ohio, Beth Bradford of Flower Mound, Texas, Shelley Prevost of Chattanooga, Tennessee, T.J. Burdine of Franklin, Tennessee, John Jeffery Shanks and Mary Jane Shanks of San Antonio; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles "Chick" Shanks of Sikeston, Missouri; a sister, Wanda Ford of Jonesboro, Arkansas; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maudie Jane Page Shanks; three sisters, Catherine Boswell, Billie Whittle and Marray Jo Rakestraw of Sikeston.

The Shanks family would like to thank the staff of Four Oaks Hospice of Dexter, Missouri; his doctor, Dr. Joyce Reed, and her nurse Kay, for all the loving care shown to their father; and also to Watkins and Sons Funeral Service staff in Dexter for all their loving kindness.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in loving memory of John Shanks to First Baptist Church of Bloomfield.

watkinsfuneralhome.com