Jack LaVerne Sheldon, Sr., peacefully passed away on June 6, 2011, at a hospital in Gilbert, Arizona near his home in Mesa. He was born in Lansing, Michigan, December 19, 1925, to Vernon Burr Sheldon (1890 - 1927) and Nellie Anne (Page) Sheldon (1890 - 1973). He grew up near Elsie, Michigan, where he graduated from high school in 1943.
Jack enlisted in the United States Navy November 24, 1943, enrolled in the V-12 program, and obtained the rank of V-5 Aviation Cadet by attending Arkansas A&M College and the US Naval Pre-flight School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and was honorably discharged June 30, 1947. Awaiting his discharge, Jack attended and graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics and received a lifetime certificate as an aircraft and engine mechanic.
On December 7, 1946, he married Velma "Bonnie" Shuster, and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Together they had six children who attended schools in the Elsie and Owosso, Michigan, areas during the 1950's and 1960's. Providing a home for many foster children, they were also very active in promoting activities for the youth and community groups including the 4-H, Boy Scouts, YMCA, and YWCA, and received an award from the State of Michigan for service to youth.
Jack studied at the United Television Laboratories of Louisville, Kentucky, where he received most of his training in the field of electronics. He began repairing televisions in Owosso when the media was in its infancy and earned the nickname "Sarnoff" after one of the early television pioneers. Jack was employed at Corunna TV and then his own business, Jack's TV Service in Owosso, and then later in Mesa, Arizona, where they settled in 1971.
Jack was passionate about his hobby as an Amateur "ham" Radio operator, licensed in Michigan as K8WWK in 1959, and later in Arizona as W7IVB and KG7X. He was a mentor and instructor to many radio enthusiasts in the Shiawassee County area and was one of the founding officers of the Shiawassee County Amateur Radio Association. Jack also taught Amateur Radio theory and Morse code at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College, and was the patriarch ham radio operator in the Sheldon family having inspired sons, daughters, and grandsons to become licensed. He was a long-time member of the Central Arizona DX Association, received numerous awards, and was named Ham Radio Operator of the Year by the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club in 1995. In addition to his radio hobby, Mr. Sheldon also enjoyed flying his private airplane in the 1980's and 1990's.
Most of all, he is known for having enjoyed spending time with his extended family. He is survived by his wife and his six children, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Sheldon WA8MVH (1910 - 2002) of Ludington, Michigan, his sister Ruth Eileen Lewandowski (1913 - 1962) of Lansing, Michigan, and one grandchild.
His ashes were mixed with mom's and they were finally laid to rest on May 19, 2017.
We miss you and love you, Dad.
Jack enlisted in the United States Navy November 24, 1943, enrolled in the V-12 program, and obtained the rank of V-5 Aviation Cadet by attending Arkansas A&M College and the US Naval Pre-flight School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and was honorably discharged June 30, 1947. Awaiting his discharge, Jack attended and graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics and received a lifetime certificate as an aircraft and engine mechanic.
On December 7, 1946, he married Velma "Bonnie" Shuster, and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Together they had six children who attended schools in the Elsie and Owosso, Michigan, areas during the 1950's and 1960's. Providing a home for many foster children, they were also very active in promoting activities for the youth and community groups including the 4-H, Boy Scouts, YMCA, and YWCA, and received an award from the State of Michigan for service to youth.
Jack studied at the United Television Laboratories of Louisville, Kentucky, where he received most of his training in the field of electronics. He began repairing televisions in Owosso when the media was in its infancy and earned the nickname "Sarnoff" after one of the early television pioneers. Jack was employed at Corunna TV and then his own business, Jack's TV Service in Owosso, and then later in Mesa, Arizona, where they settled in 1971.
Jack was passionate about his hobby as an Amateur "ham" Radio operator, licensed in Michigan as K8WWK in 1959, and later in Arizona as W7IVB and KG7X. He was a mentor and instructor to many radio enthusiasts in the Shiawassee County area and was one of the founding officers of the Shiawassee County Amateur Radio Association. Jack also taught Amateur Radio theory and Morse code at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College, and was the patriarch ham radio operator in the Sheldon family having inspired sons, daughters, and grandsons to become licensed. He was a long-time member of the Central Arizona DX Association, received numerous awards, and was named Ham Radio Operator of the Year by the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club in 1995. In addition to his radio hobby, Mr. Sheldon also enjoyed flying his private airplane in the 1980's and 1990's.
Most of all, he is known for having enjoyed spending time with his extended family. He is survived by his wife and his six children, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Sheldon WA8MVH (1910 - 2002) of Ludington, Michigan, his sister Ruth Eileen Lewandowski (1913 - 1962) of Lansing, Michigan, and one grandchild.
His ashes were mixed with mom's and they were finally laid to rest on May 19, 2017.
We miss you and love you, Dad.
Jack LaVerne Sheldon, Sr., peacefully passed away on June 6, 2011, at a hospital in Gilbert, Arizona near his home in Mesa. He was born in Lansing, Michigan, December 19, 1925, to Vernon Burr Sheldon (1890 - 1927) and Nellie Anne (Page) Sheldon (1890 - 1973). He grew up near Elsie, Michigan, where he graduated from high school in 1943.
Jack enlisted in the United States Navy November 24, 1943, enrolled in the V-12 program, and obtained the rank of V-5 Aviation Cadet by attending Arkansas A&M College and the US Naval Pre-flight School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and was honorably discharged June 30, 1947. Awaiting his discharge, Jack attended and graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics and received a lifetime certificate as an aircraft and engine mechanic.
On December 7, 1946, he married Velma "Bonnie" Shuster, and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Together they had six children who attended schools in the Elsie and Owosso, Michigan, areas during the 1950's and 1960's. Providing a home for many foster children, they were also very active in promoting activities for the youth and community groups including the 4-H, Boy Scouts, YMCA, and YWCA, and received an award from the State of Michigan for service to youth.
Jack studied at the United Television Laboratories of Louisville, Kentucky, where he received most of his training in the field of electronics. He began repairing televisions in Owosso when the media was in its infancy and earned the nickname "Sarnoff" after one of the early television pioneers. Jack was employed at Corunna TV and then his own business, Jack's TV Service in Owosso, and then later in Mesa, Arizona, where they settled in 1971.
Jack was passionate about his hobby as an Amateur "ham" Radio operator, licensed in Michigan as K8WWK in 1959, and later in Arizona as W7IVB and KG7X. He was a mentor and instructor to many radio enthusiasts in the Shiawassee County area and was one of the founding officers of the Shiawassee County Amateur Radio Association. Jack also taught Amateur Radio theory and Morse code at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College, and was the patriarch ham radio operator in the Sheldon family having inspired sons, daughters, and grandsons to become licensed. He was a long-time member of the Central Arizona DX Association, received numerous awards, and was named Ham Radio Operator of the Year by the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club in 1995. In addition to his radio hobby, Mr. Sheldon also enjoyed flying his private airplane in the 1980's and 1990's.
Most of all, he is known for having enjoyed spending time with his extended family. He is survived by his wife and his six children, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Sheldon WA8MVH (1910 - 2002) of Ludington, Michigan, his sister Ruth Eileen Lewandowski (1913 - 1962) of Lansing, Michigan, and one grandchild.
His ashes were mixed with mom's and they were finally laid to rest on May 19, 2017.
We miss you and love you, Dad.
Jack enlisted in the United States Navy November 24, 1943, enrolled in the V-12 program, and obtained the rank of V-5 Aviation Cadet by attending Arkansas A&M College and the US Naval Pre-flight School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and was honorably discharged June 30, 1947. Awaiting his discharge, Jack attended and graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics and received a lifetime certificate as an aircraft and engine mechanic.
On December 7, 1946, he married Velma "Bonnie" Shuster, and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Together they had six children who attended schools in the Elsie and Owosso, Michigan, areas during the 1950's and 1960's. Providing a home for many foster children, they were also very active in promoting activities for the youth and community groups including the 4-H, Boy Scouts, YMCA, and YWCA, and received an award from the State of Michigan for service to youth.
Jack studied at the United Television Laboratories of Louisville, Kentucky, where he received most of his training in the field of electronics. He began repairing televisions in Owosso when the media was in its infancy and earned the nickname "Sarnoff" after one of the early television pioneers. Jack was employed at Corunna TV and then his own business, Jack's TV Service in Owosso, and then later in Mesa, Arizona, where they settled in 1971.
Jack was passionate about his hobby as an Amateur "ham" Radio operator, licensed in Michigan as K8WWK in 1959, and later in Arizona as W7IVB and KG7X. He was a mentor and instructor to many radio enthusiasts in the Shiawassee County area and was one of the founding officers of the Shiawassee County Amateur Radio Association. Jack also taught Amateur Radio theory and Morse code at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College, and was the patriarch ham radio operator in the Sheldon family having inspired sons, daughters, and grandsons to become licensed. He was a long-time member of the Central Arizona DX Association, received numerous awards, and was named Ham Radio Operator of the Year by the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club in 1995. In addition to his radio hobby, Mr. Sheldon also enjoyed flying his private airplane in the 1980's and 1990's.
Most of all, he is known for having enjoyed spending time with his extended family. He is survived by his wife and his six children, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John Sheldon WA8MVH (1910 - 2002) of Ludington, Michigan, his sister Ruth Eileen Lewandowski (1913 - 1962) of Lansing, Michigan, and one grandchild.
His ashes were mixed with mom's and they were finally laid to rest on May 19, 2017.
We miss you and love you, Dad.
