Obituaries

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Msgr. Carl Schmitt celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by Margaret Shekleton and Jack's four children, Greg, John, Mary Beth and Patrice. Chris Carrier will be the organist accompanying the Holy Family Resurrection Choir and Travis Bouska as cantor.  Lector for the service will be John F. Shekleton.  Presenting the offertory gifts will be Joan Kobliska, May Pat Voss, Therese Scallan and Anne Sehy.  Serving as eucharistic ministers are Sandy Shekleton and Diane Dietzenbach.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with John Hawkins, Paul O'Connor, Bryce Kamrath, Brad Kamrath Jr., Garrett Shekleton and Shane Shekleton as pallbearers.

Visitation will be 3:00- 8:00 p.m. Friday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 7:00 p.m. Parish Scripture Service. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Saturday.  

John Thomas “Jack” Shekleton was born on the family farm October 22, 1929, in rural New Hampton, Iowa the youngest child of Gregory and Mary Irene (Boyle) Shekleton. He began his education at the rural country school and then attended St. Joseph School through the 8^th grade. He continued at the New Hampton High School, graduating in 1948. After high school he began crop and cattle farming.

On October 6, 1962, at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff, MN, Jack was united in marriage to Margaret O’Connor. To this union two sons and two daughters were born.

Along with farming, Jack owned and operated the Shekleton Feed Service until the early 70’s. He then began working at Rath Packing Company until its closing in the mid 1980’s. Jack enjoyed working in the funeral home business for the last fifteen years. He also drove for Zips Wrecker Service in New Hampton. In his spare time he often helped his son Greg with training and transporting horses.

Jack was a family man and the time he spent visiting with family and friends, nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren was the time he enjoyed most. His smile, wave and that twinkle in his eye will be missed by his family and the entire community.  Jack was a member of Knights of Columbus and Holy Family Parish.  

Survivors include his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Mary Beth (Kevin) Ovel of New Hampton, Patrice (Brian) Ross of Vienna, VA; two sons, Greg (Shelia) Shekleton, John Shekleton Jr. all of New Hampton; seven grandchildren, Brad Kamrath Jr., Bryce Kamrath, Brigette Kamrath, Garrett Shekleton, Shane Shekleton, Ellie Ross and Benjamin Ross; two brothers, Walter Shekleton of New Hampton, Jim (Margaret) Shekleton of St. Louis Park, MN; one sister, Mary Rouchka of New Hampton; a sister-in-law, Mary Ann Shekleton of New Hampton; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Patrick Shekleton and Gene Shekleton; brother-in-law, Lester Rouchka; and sister-in-law, Rosella Shekleton.