Clara L. Shinn

Clara L. Shinn Not quite reaching her promised age of 100, Clara L. Shinn passed away on January 12, 2017, at the age of 98, in Indianapolis, Indiana, with many of her family members at her bedside during her last week of life. Clara was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 24, 1918; graduated from Lindbloom High School in Chicago, Illinois; and, married husband, Bob, in Hindsdale, Illinois on April 3, 1943. While Clara held various retail sales positions throughout her lifetime (F.W. Woolworth; Sears; Pries; Casual Corner; Goff Food Stores and Robinson’s Grocery to name a few), her main “profession” in life was as Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother to her family. She was an excellent seamstress, gardener and crafter, with an unbridled passion – even up to the age of 93 while she was living in her assisted living apartment at the Marquette – for bowling; sometimes league bowling as many as three times per week! She remained in her own home until the age of 92, when she moved to the Marquette in East Lansing, with her final move in 2014 to an assisted living apartment at Rosegate Commons in Indianapolis. Clara was a life member of the LaGrange Order of the Eastern Star and belonged to the Haslett Community Church in Haslett, Michigan. Clara was raised the only daughter of Jesse Vernon and Emily Dora Miller and was preceded in death by her infant sister, Alice, her toddler sister, Wilodean, and her husband John Robert (Bob/”J.R.”) Shinn in 1999, her granddaughter, Lisa Marie DeNike in 1995 and her daughter-in-law, Jackie Shinn in 2011. She is survived by her five children, Sandra K. (Ron) Nakasone of Indiana, Pamela G. Shinn of Colorado, Dennis K. (Patti Delling) Shinn of Michigan, Richard A. Shinn of Massachusetts and Jacqueline A. (Jim) Bourland of Michigan/Florida. Also surviving are ten grandchildren Rebecca (Bill) Mathes and Ashley Nakasone of Indiana, Jennifer Shinn, Ryan Shinn and Jeremy Shinn of Colorado and Lynn (Jessica) Kase, Tiffany Kase, Christy Kase, Stephanie Reynolds and Lindsay (Daniel Thurman) Shinn of Michigan. Also surviving are eleven great-grandchildren, Emma Colin Reynolds, Zowie Beha, Eann Spotts, Christopher Reardon and Robert Kase of Michigan, Jordan Nakasone and Madison, Iokina and Ameron Hoovler and Mariah Hernandez of Indiana. The family wishes to extend a special “thank you” to Clara’s “Bowling Buddies” who loved and supported Clara for many years, providing her with many wonderful bowling memories and friendships which she treasured throughout her lifetime. The family also wishes to thank the outstanding doctors and staff at Community Hospital South for the loving and compassionate care they provided not only to Clara but to her family during her last week which was spent in the hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017, at the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, Indiana, with viewing at 10:00 a.m. and services at 11:00 a.m., with internment immediately following at the Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Pastor Denny Bollenbacher will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clara’s name to your local Food Bank or Meals On Wheels organization.