Elgin leader will be remembered at Judson service
A Celebration of Life service for longtime Elgin leader John "Jack" Shales will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 24 in the chapel at Judson University, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.
A Marine and Korean War veteran, Shales died Jan. 26 at 88. He was involved in various charitable and civic causes throughout his life.
Shales spent 27 years with Illinois Hydraulic Construction Co., where he was hired by then-owner Pete Rakow in 1954. In 1983, he co-founded the construction company, Seagren/Shales, Inc. In 2001, he was a founding partner of Shales McNutt Construction.
Shales was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Plato Center. He was a prolific fundraiser involved in the United Way of Elgin campaigns for more than 60 years. He was raising money for the Elgin YMCA-owned Camp Edwards before he died.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene, children Michael Shales, Kristin Durham, Heidi Baudry, and John Shales, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Cornerstone Church, 41W170 Russell Road, and Camp Edwards, N8901 Army Lake Road, East Troy, Wisconsin, 53120.