Michael “Mike” Shaw, of Jordan, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016, at the age of 72. A visitation is Friday, January 22, 2016 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation in Jordan. A Celebration of Life Service is Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:30 – 10:45 AM at Hope Lutheran Church in Jordan. Reverend Thomas Stutelberg will preside. Pallbearers for Mike are his nephews, Daniel Fox, Darin Shaw, Stephan Shaw, Thomas Shaw, Kyle Belmont and Timothy Eckhoff, and Mike’s grandsons Austin Shaw and Charlie Wolf are honorary pallbearers. Mike will be laid to rest at Sprit Hill Cemetery.
On July 4, 1943 Tim and Tootsie Shaw welcomed their son Michael Alan Shaw into the world. He was the second of seven children, and the oldest boy in the family. Mike loved growing up on the family farm in Henning. He developed a strong work ethic, and his parents always depended on him to get the chores done. The Shaw’s were a close-knit family, and Mike valued growing up with his cousins who lived on a nearby farm. Mike loved his home town and returned to the family farm every year to help plant and gather crops.
After graduating from Henning High School, Mike attended Bemidji State University and earned his teaching degree. Mike worked hard to put himself through school. He got a job as the head chef at The Ranch House Supper Club in Fergus Falls, MN. Mike loved cooking, but the best part of this job is that it led him to a lovely young woman, Lorraine Lukken.
The two hit it off, and their love quickly blossomed. On June 11, 1966, Mike and Lori exchanged wedding vows at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning. Shortly after their wedding, Mike and Lori settled in Jordan and were blessed with two wonderful children, Patrick and Wendy.
Mike taught at Jordan High School for 35 years. He also coached wrestling, track and baseball and acted as a wrestling referee. Mike had a wonderful way of interacting with his students. He showed kindness, compassion and encouragement to each student. After retiring in 2000, Mike became an adjunct professor for Mankato State University for 7 years where he oversaw and advised student teachers.
Throughout the years, Mike had many side jobs too. He was a skilled carpenter and took on many remodeling projects. He even built a cabin for his family on East Battle Lake. Mike had his realtor license and did taxes for a large number of customers every year. He was also very involved in the community. Mike served on the City Council for more than 25 years and has been the Mayor of Jordan since 2012. Mike was a respected leader in the community and a dedicated civil servant.
When Mike wasn’t working, he was spending time outdoors, enjoying nature. Mike had a passion for deer, pheasant and duck hunting. He also greatly enjoyed fishing and tending to the earth through farming. Mike also was an active member of the Scott Carver Threshers Organization. He was proud to pass his love for tractors onto his grandsons, Austin and Charlie. Mike was also proud of the work he did with the Commercial Club, Zoning and Planning Committee, Concertina Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Mike always kept himself busy and had many interests, but the most important things in his life were family and faith. He was a wonderful husband, loving father and an adoring grandpa. Mike was a selfless man with a servant’s heart. He was blessed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Mike lived every day to its fullest and was an inspiration to many.
After a yearlong battle with cancer, Mike went to be with the Lord. He passed away peacefully holding the hands of his family members. Mike will be deeply missed by his wife, Lori Shaw; children, Patrick (Amy) Shaw, Wendy (Eric) Wolf; grandchildren, Lauren and Austin Shaw, Charlie and Grace Wolf, Kailey, Harlan and Lucy Johnson; mother, Alvina “Tootsie” Shaw; siblings, Sandy (Bruce) Fox, Keith (Cindy) Shaw, Steve (Sue) Shaw, Sue (Stan) Eckhoff, Kevin (Penny) Shaw, Becky (Tom) Belmont; other loving relatives and friends. Mike’s dad preceded him in death and was there to greet him in Heaven.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation proudly serves the Shaw family.
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John & Connie Wiese
Lorraine and family,
We are sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
John & Connie Wiese
Lisa Whipps
I am so sorry.Mike was one of my favorite teachers and my go to tax guy.Just a wonderful man.
Amy Bullyan
I am so very sorry for your loss. Mike was my absolute favorite teacher. He was such a class act. I loved spending time with him each tax season. Catching up, reminiscing about school days, and hearing stories about his beloved grandchildren. He touched so many lives. I will miss his smile, his kindness, and his one-of-a-kind sense of humor. He was such a positive person and role model. He will be deeply missed. My heart-felt condolences go out to his entire family.
Brenda Schneider Pauly
My thoughts and prayers are with you Lori, Pat and Wendy. Mr. Shaw was the absolute BEST! He will be missed so very much by so many!!!! Love and hugs to you and your families. Thank you for sharing your Dad/Husband with all of us!
Roxanne (Buesgens) Prokes
My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. I have to agree with everyone else he was the best teacher and a great leader not only for the community but also for the students that he taught. He will be deeply missed.
Marcy and Jim Pauly
our deepest thoughts and prayers are with you Lori Pat and Wendy and family..
Peggy Lucas Beuch
Mike you were a wonderful teacher and mentor. So sorry to hear of your passing. RIP Mike.
Toni Thomas Walsh
My deepest sympathy to the Shaw family. Mike was an amazing teacher, and taught me that no matter how bad I was at math, he could teach me two things, accounting and typing. A teacher that cared so much about his students and wanting them to be successful. The community lost a great man, and I lost a great teacher and mentor.
Jesse Lutz
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of such a good man and one of my favorite teachers/coaches. I know he is going to a better place, he was such a great man. You will be missed coach Shaw.
Jeff Pascal
I’m so sorry for your loss. Mike was a great man.
Rebecca and John Ringsmuth
Love and prayers to your family. God truly shows himself during times these times of loss. And has him in His hands.
Joann Koehn (Nolting)
Joann Koehn (Nolting ) So sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. My children Bonnie & Sharri loved him as a teacher. They thought he was the greatest. My thoughts & prayers are with your family. He was truly a wonderful man.
Mary and Dale Oldenburg
Shaw Family
Our sympathy and prayers for all of you. Mike had been a part of our lives…from high school to Dale serving with him on city council. Such a gift. Take care of each other.
Mary and Dale Oldenburg
Kathy Bregenzer
So sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you
Bob and Kathy Bregenzer
Donna (Hartmann) Koehnen
Shaw family
Mr. Shaw will be greatly missed, he was one of my favorite teachers. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your entire family .
Anne-Marie (Williams) Flannery
So sorry for your loss. He was a great teacher!
Ryan Konken
Shaw Family,
Mike was one of my favorite teachers in High School. It was enjoyable to have him as a track coach while a student and to work with him during his tenure in the City Council. I always enjoyed visiting with Mike around town and I will deffinately miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. It was a privilege to have known him.
Rosie and Butch Jabs
I had him as my teacher his first year in Jordan for accounting classes. He taught and you learned from him. For my questions and answers for my computor challenge question “Who was your favorite teacher” and hands down I always put Mike Shaw My condolences to his family.
The Wolf's
To The Shaw Family..Your husband, dad,grandpa, son, brother was a man of integrity a man that all of us could and did learn from. He lived his life to the fullest always with compassion and conviction ! He will be missed we are so very thankful that we knew him..Blessings and love always! Keith,Anne,Tay,Liv (vivvy), and Dani.
Curtis Rank
My prayers and deepest sympathy to Mike Shaw family is one of the best teachers I ever had he will be deeply missed
Jo nelson
I am so very sorry for your loss. It’s not just your loss; it’s all of yours. I so enjoyed visiting with Mike when I worked at Chaska High School and every year at tax time. He was a very dear, sweet man and I will miss him greatly. My prayers and deepest sympathy to all of you
Jack & Brenda Herman
Lori & family,
Mike was a great wrestling coach,mentor and friend. He will be deeply missed & fondly remembered by us and the many people whose lives he touched. May your faith give you peace & strength to carry you through this difficult time.
Jack & Brenda Herman
Diane Jelen Martin
To the Shaw Family, my heartfelt sympathy to you all. Mr. Shaw ( I could never call him ‘Mike’) was my FAVORITE teacher, what a great guy! I think we all related to him because he was so close to our age that first year he arrived. He will be sorely missed. Treasure your memories of him. May God shower your family with peace and comfort in the days that follow.
Tony Stier
A celebration of life now in gods hand. He has left many great memories and Mike has touched many people. Prayers to the family.
Tom and Joan Martens
We are so very sadden to hear the passing of Mike, our deepest sympathy to the family. Thoughts and prayers.
Michelle Zappetillo
I am so very sorry for your loss! Mr. Shaw will be greatly missed! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary M Pauly
I am so saddened by the news of Mr. Shaw’s passing. He will be missed by many, and remembered fondly by all.
Colleen Eischens
Laurie and Family, My deepest sympathy for your great loss. He shall be missed terribly. He and your family are in my prayers.
Mary Draheim
So very saddened by Mikes paasing. He will truly be m8ssed. Thinking of you all Lori Pat Wendy and families. Praying for your peace. Take comfort in the memories that you share and find peace knowing Mike is in a better place and free of pain. Thinking of you all with deepest sympathy.
Ethel Stone Muchlinski
Our deepest sympathy to the Shaw family. Mike was a great man and always so kind to my parents. He will be missed.
John
Sorry to here about Mike Had him for Business Law in 1965-66 school year His first year here. He did many good things for our town and school , and I believe my father Luke gave him the nickname of Buckshot . will be sadly missed
Kevin Menke
Lori, Patrick, Wendy, Eric and all of the Shaw family. Thank you for sharing Mike with us. He was a treasure to our community and will be deeply missed. Our prayers are with you.
Wanda Breimhorst
Our sympathy to all of you. Mike will be missed by the entire Jordan community. Thank you for sharing him with us all these years
John and Wanda
Scot Pauly
Great memories of Mike being my wrestling coach and teacher. What a man of great character. There’s no doubt that God has great plans for him in heaven. My deepest condolences to you Lori, Pat, Wendy and everyone in his extended family.
Lori Ross
Our deepest condolences to the Shaw family. Our hearts ache for your loss.
Warm regards,
Jeffrey Bondy & Lori Ross
Jan Telford Bailey
So sorry to hear about Mr. Shaw. He was an excellent teacher, and one of the few teachers to come to our class reunions. God bless his family.
Bruce and Mary Pauly
Mike was a great contributor in the community. Our prayers go out to the family.
Kirsti & Bob Skuza
Lori,Pat, Wendy & The Shaw Families,
We are so very sorry to hear that Mike has passed away, he was an awesome person to know. You are in our thoughts & prayers. Our deepest sympathy & God’s peace to all,
Kirsti & Bob Skuza
Vicki Mornson
Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the Shaw family.We will miss
Mike.
Vicki and Ron Mornson
Don Plonski
So sorry for your loss, Mike was a great teacher and a good person. He always seemed to genuinely care. He will be missed.
RWM
The success of a man’s life on earth is not measured by bank account balances or possessions. It is measured by your family, friends, and most importantly the lives you have touched. Mike was one of the most successful men I have encountered. We will miss you Mike!
Les & Dorothy Tagtow
We were so very sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. Always respected him & his dedication to his students. He certainly left a big impact on JHS. We talk about him often and how he left a lasting impression with us. God bless you Lori and your family and Grant you Peace. Class of 1966
Daniel D. Morris
Mike was my neighbor for 30 years and teacher to my 3 children. Mike was not only a great teacher, but a great man who was always there to day hi as he walk his dog every evening passed my home on Rustle Rd.
My children always talked favorable about Mike as a teacher and friend.
Mike will be missed very much, not only by his family. But by all that new him as a friend and neighbor. Our condolences to the family.
Christi Elwood Grothe
So sorry for your loss. Mike was a wonderful man. Thoughts and prayers to you all!
Cousin Jerry
Cookie: So sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. May God grant you peace and comfort in your grief. God Bless you and your family
--jiv
Mr. Shaw was a Gentleman . . . A gentle man. He was full of “class”. And he was always good for my eyes to see. Rest in Peace, Worthy Servant., in the New Jerusalem.
David and Erin Dickie
Our deepest sympathies to the Shaw family. May our Lord wrap his arms around you and help you through this difficult time.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Tim and Trudy Smith
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Shaw family during this difficult time. Mike touched so many lives for the good. I’m grateful to have had the chance to know him as a colleague and friend, on the city council, through many community organizations including our food shelf, and as a teacher to our sons. Mike was a man of faith and will be greatly missed by many, but his goodness, warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit will be remembered forever. We are comforted knowing that Mike’s pain and struggle is over and that……he is now joyously celebrating with our Lord in his heavenly home.
May the Lord’s love, comfort your hearts with His strength and His peace.
Parvin.A
Dear Lori , Patrick , Wendy my prayers with you and all the family members who knew this wonderful man of God. My heart is broken to find out , his journey was ended with us . Although we didn’t spend that much time with him, but for a short time we spend with him and Lori we fall in love with this couple. Mike was one of the kind in every human level, very intelligent , kind, strong believer in spiritual, and sensitive to family friends and community in every opportunity he could find to help . we been blessed by him to take a share of helping Patrick when he was building our house. Mike you will be missed greatly.
Tim Torgrimson
Condolences to the entire Shaw family on the loss of Mike. He faced his illness with courage and is now in a better place. We will all miss his presence here on earth but will be reunited with him some day.
Tim and Deb Torgrimson
Patty Link
My condolences to the Shaw family. Mr. Shaw was a good teacher and community leader. The past months when I would see him, he would also sit down and talk for awhile. Will miss him.
Denise Moen
Dear Lori and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this time. Mike will always remain a great man in the hearts of those who knew him and loved him. May your many, many happy memories give you comfort during this time. May you feel the love of those around you who share your sorrow. Know that we are thinking of you and praying for you.
Karen Schrader
Kris called me this morning to tell me about Mike’s passing. I am so very sorry and have been keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. I am so glad I got to visit Mike and you, Lorrie, at Aunt Alice’s funeral last year and had so hoped that there would be a happy ending for all of you. Do give his Mom a hug for me and tell her I will call after awhile. I would write but don’t have her address. God bless and give you and the family peace, In His love, Karen
PS
I can just see Bill and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins welcoming Mike through heaven’s gates.
Jerry Krzmarzick
Lori and family, I send my condolences in the loss of Mike. I enjoyed meeting with Mike at the CACC events and playing concertina. He became a dear friend and I recall our meetings at Mayo Clinic in the Gonda Subway.
My prayers go out to you and your family.
Larry Kauzlarich
Lori and family.
I was sorry to learn about Mike’s passing. Having known Mike through our educational interactions, I found him to be not only an outstanding educator, but an even better person. He was always so positive, always smiling, and eager to talk about his students. I’m sure, as time passes, you will be able to take comfort in the memories you have of Mike and the wonderful person he was. Take care. Larry and Mary Kauzlarich.
Barb McNamara
It is so hard to put into words how sad I am. Lori, Pat, and Wendy. I know how much love you have for Mike and what a great loss this is for all of you. I know you are strong and will hold each other up and your faith will help you. Mike was just one of those special people. I will truly miss our talks about everything from Grand Kids, school, and even our love for our dogs. I will truly miss my dear friend.
Dorthy & George Jr. Gunderson
Our deepest sympathy to your family. We have known Mike as a lake neighbor for many years and will certainly miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Aaron Klehr
Lori, Patrick, Wendy and Family:
You all have my deepest sympathy. I will remember Mike and his great up beat personality, smile, and laugh. He was always so up beat about life. He really was a great role model to all of us kids that had the honor to be his students and athletes. Lori and Mike have also great trusting friends with mom and dad and I thank you both for that! Mike will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May Mike rest in peace.
Gail Rehm
My sympathy to Mike’s family. May he rest in peace.
George Deiss
My deepest sympathy on the passing of Mike. My the peace and love of our Lord and Savior comfort you in through this difficult time.
George Deiss, Mayor of Wadena
Patrick and Jodi Stone
Dear Lori, Patrick, Wendy and family
You have our deepest sympathy. I remember Mike while growing up across the road from the Shaw family and in recent years visits during deer season.
He will be missed
Mary Pekarna
Whenever I think of Mike Shaw, I smile. He was an amazing teacher -an even more amazing man. He touched so many lives in so many ways. I considered him a friend first, teacher second. He always was so concerned about others and what was happening in their lives. Heaven just became an even more beautiful place. To Lori and Mike’s family – how very blessed you are to have his spirit in your hearts forever!
Karen (Eckhoff) Van Riper
Thoughts your way, Sue and Becky. Never easy, but comfort in what they have taught us, for our lives.
Dave and Margie Thieschafer
Mike touched so many peoples lives and will be missed by all. He was a favorite teacher to many and a great man.
Tony Witt
Sympathies to all the family. He’s now at peace and pain free
Colleen & John Herzog
Our sympathies go out to the whole Shaw Family. Mike was a special person and the most dedicated of civil servants. When I spoke with Mike 4 years ago about running for Mayor, I know he was looking at retirement. But, he, too saw the need to help put Jordan on the right path towards the future. His selflessness and commitment to the community was amazing! Mike was a lovely man with a good heart and he will be sorely be missed by the entire Jordan community. Blessings to Lori, Pat and Wendy and to all who loved him.
Kevin Mincke
Shaw Family;
I remember Mike from when I first started policing in Jordan. I always enjoyed his honesty and perpective on city matters. I’m sorry for your loss, but as believers in Christ we have that foundation and promise that we will see loved ones again. Cherish the fond memories.
Kay Guenther
Jack and I are so saddened for the loss of a dear friend and colleague. Mike and I started teaching at Jordan together and he was always kind, gentle and generous. The Jordan community will feel his loss. I wish I could be there with you, Lori, Wendy and Pat to celebrate a beautiful life. Instead I am sending lots of hugs and prayers from Arizona. Our thoughts are with you. Kay and Jack