Jeff Shannon Sr.

Jeff Shannon Sr. of Antigo died Sunday, August 15th, in the care of The Cottages on Golden Pond Assisted Living in Shawano, Wisconsin. He was ninety years old. Born on June 1, 1931 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was the only son of Frederick and Barbara Steinke. Jeff married Constance M. “Sammy” Smith on June 1, 1957. (Just 7 days before his best friend, John Sable and his wife Karen Seitz were married.) Sammy preceded Jeff in death in 1975. John Sable died in 1978. Jeff Sr. and John Sable had been close friends since they met in Park Falls, Wisconsin in 1950. Sammy and Karen became best friends as well. John and Karen had two kids, Lisa and Tony, and Jeff and Sammy also had two, Jeff Jr. and Chris. The two families have always been “as one”, sharing weekend get-togethers, holidays, vacations, and much time at their log cabin on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. It seemed inevitable then, when Jeff and Karen married in 1981. The children had grown by then, but with grandkids in tow, often returned home to visit in Antigo and the Flowage. Lisa’s daughter, Molly, and son, Bennett, and Jeff Jr’s son, Austin, loved Grandma and Grandpa dearly and cherished their time with them. The families’ beloved Christopher, also preceded his family in death in March of 1992, as did our beloved Karen, in 2017. Jeff Sr. moved with his parents to the Chicago area after high school where he learned portrait and commercial photography at the Ray-Vogue School of Photography. After two years of working as a free-lance photographer, he attended Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin. During this time Jeff’s parents moved to Fifield, Wisconsin, just south of Park Falls. This is where Jeff met John Sable. While at Carroll, Jeff also met Karen Seitz, who would become a teacher, and it was there at the College that Jeff introduced Karen to John when he visited for a weekend. John was also a teacher. Not long after, while visiting his parents in Park Falls, Jeff met Sammy, who by chance was there from Denver, Colorado visiting relatives. John and Karen started dating, and soon after, Jeff and Sammy began dating. After graduating Carroll with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Jeff then spent the next couple of years as a technical writer and photographer for the federal government at the Rock Island Arsenal in Chicago. One night Sammy called Jeff and said, “If you’re going to marry me, you better get your butt up here!” Jeff was packed and on the road within the hour. When Jeff and Sammy married, they lived Park Falls, where Sammy, yet another teacher, then taught high school. Jeff opened a photography studio, later becoming a book store and photo finishing house. It wasn’t long before Jeff decided he wanted to become a teacher, too. After another year of undergraduate study at Northland College to complete a sociology minor and fulfill the education course requirements for teacher certification, he began teaching high school English in Butternut, Wisconsin Then in 1966, Jeff and Sammy moved to Antigo, where John and Karen were living and teaching at the time. While teaching, Jeff continued his education received a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1971. In addition to his high school classes he also taught college-level composition courses for Air Force personnel who were pursuing various associate degrees while stationed at the nearby radar base. Jeff also wrote many letters to the Antigo Journal, and gave a weekly broadcast on WATK radio, both of which often riled up the community, all with the intention of providing a better education for everyone’s children. Jeff taught until his retirement in 1987. He was dearly loved by his students, so many of whom would come back to visit after graduating. Jeff considered each one of students separately, as an individual who would someday face the challenges that adults face, and as such demanded the best of each one in preparation for their individual successes. During his tenure he was awarded Teacher-of-the-Year several years, and also served as head of the English Department, as well as union representative to the WEA and NEA. Upon retirement, Jeff began yet another successful career in Writing, having written more than a dozen novels. Several of these are part of his “Deadly” books; a crime series, and there are a few more titles telling stories that teach life’s many lessons. Aside from writing, Jeff loved to fish, jumping on every opportunity to do so. He also played the piano and guitar, and often provided entertainment in some of the resorts on the Flowage. Jeff was also a die-hard sports fan. He loved all sports, but was particularly glued to the set during each and every Packer Game. Later in years he relished the time he had with his grandchildren. He so loved, and was extremely proud of Molly, Bennett, and Austin. Grandpa will forever be one of their Guardian Angels. Those who knew Jeff, knew of his sense of humor. He very much cherished his many friends; you know who you are. Many of you were “prey” to his sense of humor, but he knew you could take it, and he especially loved it when you’d dish it right back at him. He always looked forward to seeing all of you at the various Friday Night Fish Fries around town, and on regular Poker Nights, Bridge Club Nights, and Stock Club Nights. You were all very special to Jeff. Jeff is survived by his family— Jeff Jr. and Denise, Lisa Kafka and John Schaefer, Tony Sable, and Tom Kafka, and of course his pride and joy grandchildren, Molly and Bennett Kafka, and Austin Shannon. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Strasser-Roller Funeral Home at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place at the funeral home prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Antigo Public Library.