Obit: Shoemaker, Arthur Harry "Art" (1922 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Shoemaker, Zank, Goldsmith, Fenn, Johnson, Huebner, Moe 
 

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) April 7, 2010 
 

Shoemaker, Arthur Harry "Art" (17 December 1922 - 29 March 2010) With Flag  
 

Arthur "Art" Harry Shoemaker, 87, of Evansville passed away Monday March 29, 2010, at his home surrounded by his family after a long battle with prostate cancer that metastasized to the gone.  His long battle involved five months of bed care. 
 

Art was the son of Frank and Florence (Zank) Shoemaker and was born Dec. 17, 1922 in Butlerville, Clark County.  He attended Butlerville country school and Augusta High School.  Art served in the 91^st Chemical Mortar Battalion from 1946 to 1947 as a sergeant first class.   
 

Art was married to Mavis Goldsmith from 1948 - 1953, and Oct. 23, 1955, Art and Marilyn Fenn were married.  Art worked in the high pile fabric industry at Norwood and Montery Mills in Janesville for a total of 30 years.  After he retired in 1985, he worked for the Evansville School District, Housing Authority and the Evansville Auto Auction for 19 years, where he made many friends. 
 

When his children were young, he was involved with the Cub Scouts and 4-H Club.  Art was a member of the Magnolia Advent Christian Church, where he was presently serving as deacon. 
 

He loved fishing, deer and turkey hunting with his sons, grandchildren and other family members.  Art also loved to dance, sing old songs and tell stories of his youth.  One of Art’s hobbies was raising flocks of Banty chickens.  He was a great harmonica player and won the church talent show for two years in a row.  Art’s greatest passion was raising a large garden from which he sold produce for 48 years. 
 

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marilyn; four sons, Brent (Renea) of Freeport, IL, Bradley (Julie), Leslie (Diana) and Anthony (Jenny), all of Evansville; a daughter, Rebecca (Duane) Johnson of Brooklyn; his beloved 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren that he utterly enjoyed; his brothers, Howard (Bonnie) of Black River Falls and Jim (Lois) of Alma Center; a sister, Clio Huebner of Alma Center; sisters-in-law, Irene Shoemaker of Alma Center, Exie Shoemaker of Rockford, IL, and Margaret Shoemaker of Neillsville; and many nieces and nephews along with special friends. 
 

He was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers and one sister.  
 

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday April 2, 2010 at the Magnolia Advent Christian Church, 14726 West County Road A, Evansville, with Reverend Dr. Thomas Moe officiating.  Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery. Friends called Thursday, April 1, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Ward Funeral Home, 130 South 5^th Street Evansville. 
 

The family would like to send its deepest thanks to Pam, Jim Davis and the other nurses from Mercy Hospice, Inc., for their care and love.  A memorial will be established by the family. 
 

II Timothy 4:7 reads: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.