SHINN, James Edward

SHINN, ANDERSON, KASTER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/27/2013 at 00:37:04

James Edward Shinn, 70, of 16142 300th St., Mason City, Iowa died Wednesday,
Jan. 12, 2011 at the Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

Funeral services for James Shinn were held Monday, Jan. 17 at the St. John’s
Episcopal Church, Mason City, Iowa with the Rev. Wendy K. Abrahamson
officiating. Burial was in Ventura Cemetery, Ventura, Iowa where full military
honors were conducted by members of the Mason City Veterans Memorial
Association.

The Family suggests memorials to James Edward Shinn Memorial Fund.
James was born June 1, 1940 in SanDiego, Calif. the son of James Burton and
Beatrice (Anderson) Shinn. He moved with his family at an early age to Mason
City, where he attended Mason City High School.

Following high school in 1958 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the
U.S.S. Evans destroyer.

He moved back to Mason City and worked for Interstate Power as a Powerline
Mechanic for 41 years, retiring in 2002 as a powerline foreman. After retiring
from Alliant Energy he drove school bus for the Mason City Schools.

James was very involved in scouting for over 55 years. He served as scout master
of Troop 151 in Central Heights in the 1960’s and later was scout master of
Troop 14. He was awarded the Silver Beaver from the Boy Scouts of America, a
national scouting award. He was very involved in the Order Of The Arrow. He was
awarded the Man Of The Year by the Mason City Elks Club.

He married Sharon Kaster on Sept. 30, 2006 in Ventura.

He was a rock hound, made jewelry, raised exotic birds and homing pigeons. He
enjoyed researching genealogy and tracing his family tree. He did volunteer work
at the V.F.W. He was known as the flagman of Mason City and was an instructor of
flag history and etiquette. He was the creator of the Avenue of Flags for the
Ventura Cemetery and also Mason City retired flag drop offs. He was the liaison
between Veterans and the Boy Scouts of America for the State of Iowa. He was a
member of Hardee’s morning coffee club and the Mason City Veterans Memorial
Association Honor Guard.

James is survived by his wife, Sharon, Mason City; children, Amber (Jesse)
Koch, Houston, Texas, Angela Shinn, Mason City, and her significant other, Joe
Bartusek, and James D. (Robyn) Shinn, Mason City; step-children Jeff McIlrath,
Decorah, Iowa, Joe McIlrath, Mason City, and his significant other, Chris Lacy,
Tracy (Roger) Hennigar, Hanlontown, Iowa and Dawn (Bruce) Wasenius, Mason City;
two grandchildren, Haley Jo Shinn and Jayden Lynne Shinn; and
step-grandchildren, Julian and Anthony Wasenius, Danielle Dirkson, Justin,
Samantha and Dan Hennigar, Joshua McIlrath, Taylor, Morgan and Erin Lacy; one
step-great-grandson, Dawson Dirkson; two sisters, Gloria (Bob) Austin, Hot
Springs Village, Ark. and Rosanna Bariekman, Des Moines, Iowa; and a “little
brother,” George Trent, Mason City. He was preceded in death by his parents.