Emmitt Shellhammer
[January
12, 2013]
MOUNT PULASKI -- Emmitt A. Shellhammer,
96, of Mount Pulaski died Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at 4:51 a.m. at
Vonderlieth Living Center.
(Below is a copy of
the obituary from the funeral home.)
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MT PULASKI: Emmitt A. Shellhammer, 96, of Mt.
Pulaski passed away at 4:51 A.M. Friday, January 11,
2013 at Vonderlieth Living Center in Mt. Pulaski.
Emmitt was born July 3, 1916 on the Shellhammer
family farm in rural Mt. Pulaski to Albert ad Mary
Schroth Shellhammer. He married Muriel J. Brown on
March 23, 1941 in Springfield, IL. She preceded him
in death on November 7, 1998. He was also preceded
in death by his son, David Shellhammer on August 25,
1997, his parents, a brother and a sister.
Emmitt is survived by his daughter, Debra Fricke-Pharis
of Springfield; a grandson, Nathan (Heather) Fricke,
two great-grandsons, Benjamin Fricke and Jackson
Fricke, all of Mt. Pulaski; daughter-in-law, Nicki
Shellhammer Yemm of Springfield, a nephew and
several cousins.
Mr. Shellhammer grew up on the family farm, attended
Mt. Pulaski schools and graduated high school in
1934. He was a 1938 graduate of the University of
Illinois with a degree in Agriculture, where he was
also a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. After
graduation he farmed the family homestead with his
father until he married and then enlisted in the
U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.
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Although he rarely spoke of his service in the Navy,
he was a 1st Lieutenant and Chief Engineering
Officer on the LST 878 in the Pacific Theater. While
serving in WWII he was at the battle of Saipan, Iwo
Jima and personally witnessed General MacArthur
signing the Japanese Instruments of Surrender aboard
the USS Missouri which marked the end of WWII.
He farmed for over 50 years until 1967 when he and
Muriel left the farm for "city" living, remaining in
Mt. Pulaski until his death. For a number of years
before and after retirement he was a crop hail
adjuster for Grinnell Mutual Insurance. He was a
member of the United Methodist Church of Mt.
Pulaski.
After retirement he and Muriel enjoyed traveling and
spent many winters in Sarasota, FL where they had
many snowbird friends. They also traveled to Europe
and took several cruises.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday,
Jan. 16, 2013 at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral
Home in Mt. Pulaski, with Mark Weber
officiating. Burial with full military honors will
be at the family plot at Steenbergen Cemetery, rural
Mt. Pulaski. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to
7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.
The family requests memorial contributions be made
to Vonderlieth Living Center, 1120 North Topper Rd.,
Mt. Pulaski, IL 62548.
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