Earl L Shank

Earl Lee Shank was born to Russell and Jeannette Stoutsenberger Shank, on July 20, 1924, in Stratton Hitchcock County, Nebraska on the Shank Homestead farm. He was the 4th child in a family of 10. He graduated from the 8th grade from a rural, one room school. From the age of 14, Earl worked for various farmers in the neighborhood; shucking grain and corn, milking cows, and riding the tractor and other implements in the fields. The few dollars he earned, he gave to his father to help support his 6 brothers and sisters that were left at home after his mother died in 1940. The two older brothers were already in the service. His oldest brother, Leonard, wend down with his ship 'The Rowan,' on September 11, 1943. Early was called up for his military physical in 1944 but was never drafted, even though he passed his physical and was ready to go. To tempt the draft board to take him into the service, he left his farm jobs and went to Atchison, Kansas with a buddy. He was hired by the water department and rapidly promoted; in the 6 months he was there, he went from day laborer to meter reader, because he could figure out the bills as soon as he read the meters. His father wanted him back home so he went to back to Stratton to work for a rancher and wheat farmer and eventually ended up in Burlington, Colorado. He drove a truck to haul cars and machinery to Amarillo, Texas for the rancher. He worked with cattle, ran large tractors to plant and cultivate mostly wheat and milo. He ran hay and combine crews. He even baby sat the rancher's three year old daughter. All this time, Earl sent most of his money home to his father to continue to support the children still at home.

On August 10, 1946, Earl met his future wife, Lavonne, at a dance in Culbertson, Nebraska, where she was visiting friends. They dated on and off for two years. They were married on April 4, 1948 at 8:00pm in the Methodist Church in Arapahoe, Nebraska. They were at home on a farm 5 miles South of Stratton. They lived in a little two room house with no plumbing of any kind. They moved to Spring Valley Ranch, 25 miles North of Burlington, again, sans plumbing in May 1949. However, Earl worked 25 miles Southwest of Burlington most of the time. Finally, in October 1949, they moved into a 27 foot mobile home in Burlington without a bathroom, but it did have water in the house.

In August, 1951, they left the farming behind and moved to Denver where Earl got a job at the first place he applied - H.W. Moore Equipment Company. He worked there as a parts department employee where he ordered, put away, and then shipped the heavy road building equipment parts to various counties and road construction companies all over the mountain west area. He spend 11 and 1/2 years there.

On December 17, 1959, he and Lavonne adopted Michael Lee Shank when he was only 1 month old. On March 26, 1962, they adopted Peggie Joan Shank at 4 and 1/2 months old. Earl was the perfect father. He went fishing, bike riding, or played card games with the children.

He went to work for Adolph Coors in April of 1963. He was a general brewery worker and was known for getting the most production of any operator on the number 2 bottle line. He retired in 1990 after 27 and 1/2 years. Earl loved fishing, gardening, and playing cards and dominos. He was the most "favoratist" father, grandpa, and uncle in the families. There was never a dog he couldn't make friends with. He loved to read Western novels. He regaled his family and friends with hilarious stories of his childhood, ranching, and truck driving.

He became a Catholic in 1964. He is survived by his wife of 71 years; Lavonne, a son; Michael of Oak View, California, a daughter; Peggie Hunnel of Arvada, Colorado, 4 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 1 brother; Donald, of Lubbock, Texas, and 1 sister; Shirley, of Grand Junction, Colorado and many nieces and nephews.