James A Shanahan

He was born April 23, 1939, in Warsaw, Ind., to Clifford and Geraldine Shanahan and grew up in North Manchester, Ind. He met the love of his life, Jeanne Colbert, at a high school hayride and they dated through college. They married Nov. 23, 1961 and journeyed through life together for almost 61 years. Together they had three daughters and resided in Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio before retiring to Florida.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and the technical sailing club. He had a long and successful career in engineering and management – primarily in casting and foundry settings. He held a range of positions of increasing responsibility, from maintenance supervisor to president at several companies: General Motors, Sunmark, Hayes-Albion and Continental Aluminum.

Jim loved water – whether skiing, swimming, boating, sailing or fishing – on waterways from the Great Lakes to the Florida gulf. He was a member of the Fish On club, Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs and was active in Heritage Lakes activities.

Jim loved lively conversations, a good book, jazz music and a shared laugh, often regaling others with stories of his rural youth, various travels and adventures collected over a lifetime. He had a unique ability to connect with and encourage others, being generous with a listening ear, a caring smile or a word of wisdom. Jim was also a longtime volunteer of the Property Committee at his church and Habitat for Humanity.

He is survived by wife Jeanne; daughters Lisa (John) Chiari, Megan (Tom) Woitovich and Katherine “Stacey” (Jay) Harmes; grandchildren Drew (Caitlin) Woitovich, Lauren (Stephen) Morris, and Patrick Chiari; four sisters, several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

A memorial service in Jim’s honor will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs, 4651 Little Road, New Port Richey, FL 34655. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hernando-Pasco Hospice or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.northmeadowlawnfuneral.com for the Shanahan family.