Bernie Duane Shellum

May 4, 1936 – September 13, 2015

Bernie Shellum, 79, of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, September 13, 2015. Born in Lake Hanska, Minnesota, he spent most of his life in Michigan.

He is predeceased by his parents, Josephine and Arnold Shellum, and two brothers, Amos Shellum and Luverne Shellum. He is survived by his daughter, Sonja Thayer, son, Eric Shellum, and former son-in-law, John Thayer. He is also survived by his grandchildren John (Meghann), Chelsea, Olivia, Justin, EmilyRose, Adam, Jacob, great-grandson John, former wife, Nancy Duensing, brother James Shellum, sister Ruby Kassen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bernie served in the Army in Germany from 1955-1958, where he worked in Preventive Medicine. He attended and played hockey for St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota. He graduated with a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts Degree in Journalism from Columbia University in 1965.

Bernie was a gifted writer. During his career, he was a political reporter, worked on special assignments and special interest stories, and was a business writer and columnist at the Detroit Free Press. During his career he worked for several major newspapers including the Dubuque Herald, the Washington Post, the Minneapolis Star & Tribune, and the Detroit Free Press.

Bernie was recognized with numerous awards for his writing. He received the John S. Knight fellowship in 1976 at Stanford University. In addition, he won the Grand Prize award in May 1991, at the 23rd Annual Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award ceremony for outstanding coverage of the problems of the disadvantaged in his “Workers At Risk” series.

In his spare time, Bernie enjoyed downhill skiing, ice-skating, and playing hockey, all of which he remained engaged in until last year.

A memorial service will be held honoring Bernie at Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly, Michigan on October 6, 2015.