Menu
John E "Jack" Shireman
John E "Jack" Shireman, 88, passed away on Sept. 3, 2012, at his home in Girard, Kan. He was born in Neodesha, Kan., to Richard H. Shireman Sr. and Lena Faye Stephens Shireman on Dec. 2, 1923.
He married Marilyn ZurBuchen on Aug. 21, 1949, in the Walnut Methodist Church, Walnut, Kan. She survives of the home. To this union, four children were born. They have one son, John F. "Rick" Shireman and his wife Sarah, of Denver, Colo., and Death Valley, Calif., and three daughters, Marilyn Beth Montgomery and her husband Ed of Topeka, Kan., Dana Denise Myers and her husband Donnie, also of Topeka, Kan., and Ruth Anne Duling and her husband Dan of Girard, Kan. Jack and Marilyn were blessed with eight grandchildren, Matthew, Brian, and Andrew Montgomery, Rick and Courtney Peterson, and Meredith, Natalie and John Duling. Jack is survived by one brother, Charles S. "Steve" Shireman and his wife Marjorie of rural Walnut, two nieces and four nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Capt. Richard H. "Dick" Shireman Jr., USN and a grandson Andrew Montgomery.
Jack was a World War II veteran and spent three-and- one-half years in the U.S. Air Corps Military Police. Three of those years were spent in England attached to the 94th Bomb Group and the Army of Occupation.
He was a lifetime member of the teaching profession serving in four southeast Kansas school districts. Twenty-five of those years were in Girard USD 248, the last 18 as superintendent. Additionally, he served as superintendent of Erie USD 101 and Southeast USD 247. Jack was a graduate of the Hepler Rural High School and earned bachelor, master's and specialist degrees from Kansas State Teachers College, now Pittsburg State University.
Jack was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and a member of the Vulcan Masonic Lodge No. 292 of Walnut, Hiram Chapter and Palestine Commandery of Girard, Fort Scott Scottish Rite, Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg, Girard Lion's Club and the VFW. Jack was the recipient of the Clyde U. Phillips Distinguished Service Award presented by Pittsburg State University and received the FFA Honorary State Farmer Award. He was a trustee on the board of directors for the Westridge Retirement Community and president of the Learning Tree Institute of the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush. He founded the Wedding Band Sunday School Class at the Girard United Methodist Church and was their teacher for over 40 years.
Services for John E. "Jack" Shireman will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, at the United Methodist Church in Girard with Rev Steve Cole officiating. Burial will follow in the Girard Cemetery with military honors given by the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion of Girard. Masonic graveside services will be given by the Vulcan Lodge No. 292 of Walnut. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p. m. Thursday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard where friends may call after 1 p.m. Thursday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the John E. Shireman Scholarship Fund for Girard High School graduates established by the Girard teachers and the Southeast Kansas Regional Service Center at Greenbush at the time of his retirement or to the Girard United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.