John Thomas Shearer's Obituary
John Thomas Shearer of Clearwater, Florida passed away on June 12, 2015.
John was the fourth child born to Edith Hersh Shearer and Ellsworth Shearer in Coopersburg, PA, on July 31, 1932. He attended school in Quakertown, PA prior to earning a GED.
John married Eleanor Mae Heimbach on June 17, 1951, and they shared 62 years of wonderful adventures. John held many jobs starting as a tomato picker earning 10 cents for every picked basket on his father’s farms. He went on to work in factories and became a licensed barber. He operated his own barber shop in Perkasie, PA, and worked as a barber on the camp Pendleton, CA base. Different aspects of construction provided various career opportunities for him over the next twenty years. During this time he helped his wife, Eleanor, at the two guest houses they owned and operated in Ocean City, NJ.
John and Eleanor were born and raised in Pennsylvania. They moved to California in 1962 and 1964, both times returning to PA. In 1968 they moved their family to NJ where they stayed until 1997, when they retired to Florida.
As an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, he participated in the choir, yearly rummage sales and ushering. He contributed often to maintenance projects and building needed items for the church. He delightfully expressed his opinions during congregational meetings.
John loved playing golf. His thinking went from “who would chase a silly little white ball around” to taking pride in long drives and golf victories. He liked playing pool and Texas Hold’em with friends at On Top Of The World. Woodworking, computers and swimming were other activities he enjoyed. With Eleanor, he played in bowling leagues and served as captains of the Polynesian Building for a decade. John and Eleanor traveled often after retirement.
John is survived by children: Bonnie, John and Lori. He has eight grandchildren and ten great- grandchildren.
The memorial service will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Dunedin, FL, on June 30 at 11:00am. Pastor Phyllis Wolkenhauer will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the American Heart Association of the American lung Association. The Shearer family thanks you for your loving support during this difficult life change.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?