Jeane Shanks Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Esther Jeane (Hayes) Shanks, youngest of seven children of Cyrus Crayton and Maude (Clover) Hayes, was born June 8, 1924 on the family farm near Glen Rock, Nebraska. She attended Glen Rock School and graduated from Brock High School. Jeane went on to Peru Teacher’s College and earned her teaching degree. On April 22, 1944 Jeane was united in marriage to Robert B. Shanks, Jr. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn, Nebraska. They made their home near Stella, Nebraska, and were blessed with three children: Marilyn, Bill, and Raymond. Jeane taught school at Brock and Nemaha in her younger years, and also served as a teacher’s aide at Southeast Nebraska Consolidated Schools in Stella. Mostly, though, she was a homemaker and partner with her husband on the diversified family farm. As a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn, Jeane often helped with church activities. She enjoyed bowling, cooking and canning. Her family always came first, however. Jeane served as a caregiver for two brothers and a sister, of course took care of her children, and helped with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As long as her health allowed, she followed her family’s activities in sports and other areas. Robert died in a car accident in 1983, and Jeane lived on the farm for five years, then she moved into Stella. She eventually became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn. It was there she passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 just 5 days before her 91st birthday. In addition to her husband Robert, Jeane was preceded in death by her siblings A.C. “Bunk” Hayes, Gladys Nelson, Helen Majors, Nathan Hayes, Lloyd Hayes, and Mabel Hayes, and great-grandchildren Millie and Jed Findlay. Jeane is survived by her children and their spouses Marilyn and Jim Findlay of Stella; Bill and Bonnie Shanks of Stella; Raymond and Robin Shanks of Aurora; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Jerry Beem of Falls City; Shirley Wilberger of Auburn; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. A funeral service will be Sunday, June 7, 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Auburn. Burial will follow in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home in Auburn Saturday noon to 6:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to family choice.

Jeane Shanks

June 8, 1924 - June 3, 2015