Juanita "Sis" Shook

Although she was fiercely independent and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, Juanita “Sis” Shook had a heart of gold. She was a nurturer by heart whose greatest treasure was found in her family. Sis was easy to please and could find joy in the simplest of things, and her contentment was easy to see. She was deeply devoted to her family, and she adored her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children. Life will never be the same without Sis here, but she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever treasure.

With the end of WWI in 1918, America was recognized as a world leader for the first time and poised for greatness. With the eyes of the world focused on our shores for what was to come, we did not disappoint as innovation was transforming the way we lived our everyday lives. It was during the decade that we commonly recall as the Roaring Twenties that cars were widely mass produced on assembly lines, which made them more affordable, the silent film era came to an end, and Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh took the world of flight to new heights. It was just as this decade was dawning that Frank and Lela (Lambert) Shook were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the beauty of summer unfolded in Martin Township, Michigan, in June of 1920. Their wait was over on June 25th when they welcomed the baby girl they named Juanita into their hearts and home. She was the second of four children in her family, joining her older brother, Frank Jr., and then followed by her younger brothers, Harold and Bob.

In many ways Juanita, or Sis as she was often known, was a young girl of her generation. She was raised in Martin where she attended local schools and graduated from Martin High School. Growing up with parents who are farmers meant that Sis had her fair share of work around the farm. Always willing to work hard, Sis spent some time working for Shakespeare in Kalamazoo and then later at Gibson Guitar before settling in at her job at Lear Siegler in Grand Rapids. She spent the bulk of her career there before retiring at the age of 65. In addition, Sis purchased an ice cream store with her brother, Frank, primarily so that her mother would have a place to work as well as her nieces and nephews. Over the years many of her nieces and nephews did work there.

Even though she never married or had children of her own, Sis cherished her family. She considered her nieces and nephews to be her own children, and when asked how many children she had she would always answer 17. In addition, Sis treasured the companionship of her little poodle, Gomer, and he served as her companion for 15 years.

Throughout her life Sis was one to keep busy. She wasn’t much for cooking, but she did enjoy working out in her yard and especially loved to mow. Sis did some traveling with her friend, Pearl, and over the years Sis made it to every state except Hawaii. She was also perfectly content to go out for long rides and reminisce about the past along the way, and later in life she enjoyed going to the casino every now that then. With her primary focus in life being focused on caring for family, Sis cared for her parents during their later years, and her siblings always knew that she was there to help them in whatever way she could. Although she would have loved to be at home, she received superb care at the Dussia House where she lived for the last three years of her life.

When reflecting on the life of Juanita “Sis” Shook, words such as dedicated, compassionate, and selfless come to mind. She was all of these things and more, and when it came to her family her devotion was unmatched. Sis could be strict and stubborn at times, yet it was only because she was passionate about the people and things she loved. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Sis lived a life of purpose. She will never be forgotten.

Sis Shook, of Martin, went to be with the Lord and her family that has passed away before her on March 23, 2016, at the Dussia House in Otsego. Sis’ family includes her 15 nieces and nephews: Gloria (Alice), Max (Peg), Tom (Margret), John (Lori), Susie (Leroy), Sherry, Craig (Joan), Diane (Rod), Kathy (Phil), Bobbie (Tony), Francis (Norene), Pinkie (Randy), Art, Floyd (Lynn), Linda, Melody (Cliff) whom she considered her children. Sis was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings: Frank Jr., Harold and Bob; niece Gail; nephews: Dennis Shook and Francis Stahlhood. Visit with her family and friends on Saturday, March 26 from 10:00-11:00 at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 Woodhams St. (685-5881). A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Please visit her memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign her memory book online. Memorial donations can be made to Grace Hospice of Kalamazoo.