G.R. 'Bob' Shackleton

Monday, January 21, 2002

G.R. 'Bob' Shackleton

GOTHENBURG -- G.R. "Bob" Shackleton, 67, died Thursday (Jan. 17, 2002) at his home in Gothenburg after a struggle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born Oct. 15, 1934, at Hollinger to Howard and Fay Shackleton. He spent his youth at Cornell, Wis. before moving to Beaver City where he graduated from high school in 1953.

On Dec. 20, 1953, he married Mary Ellen Skiles. They farmed south of Hendley until 1961 when he entered the Amarillo Police Academy in Amarillo, Texas. He became city marshall of Holbrook in 1962. In 1967, the family moved to Gothenburg where he was employed with the City of Gothenburg for a short time as an electrical lineman before assuming his duties of police officer in Gothenburg. From 1969 to 1974 he ran the Thirty Mile Canal Irrigation Ditch. He returned to Gothenburg as chief of police in 1974, a position he held until his retirement in 1988.

He married Carol Lea (Ness) Severcid on April 8, 1988, at Gothenburg.

He was a member of the city council, Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church and Community Playhouse, all of Gothenburg. He helped to found the Dawson County Areawide Lifeline Program and continued as chairman.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a grandson, Corey Parsons.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; two sons, George and wife, Azalia "Zac" of Bridgeport, and Ross and wife, Peggy of Mitchell. S.D.; two daughters, Valorie and husband, Russell Parsons of Willow Island, and Sina Jo and husband, Alvin Werkmeister of Hayes Center; his mother, Fay of Beaver City; one brother, Bill Shackleton and wife, Wanda of Grand Island; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Life Celebration Services will be Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Gothenburg with the Rev. Steve Berke officiating. Private inurnment will be in the Gothenburg Cemetery.

Memorals may be given in his name to Gothenburg Baseball, Gothenburg Lions Club, or the First Presbyterian Church of Gothenburg.

Memorial visitation will be today until 9 p.m. and Tuesday 9 a.m.-noon.

Blase Memorial Chapel of Gothenburg is in charge of arrangements.