Everett Frederick Shinn

Everett Frederick Shinn of Fairbury, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the age of 89 surrounded by family. Born April 13, 1934, to Emery and Esther (Ridder) Shinn in Fairbury, Nebraska. Everett was raised on the family farm southwest of Fairbury and spent lots of time learning how to farm, build, and fix things with his dad and grandpa. Everett was one of the first members of the Fairbury FFA. He credited his teacher and the program with helping him learn many of the skills that he used to make a living for him and his family. Everett met his wife Marilyn at the free outdoor movies in Gilead where he was drawn to her red hair. He married Marilyn Asche at Grace Lutheran in Hebron, Nebraska on October 30,1955. They had their first son Gary in November of 1958 and were blessed with a second son Terry in July of 1962. Everett Shinn enlisted in the Army National Guard in April 1956. During his enlistment he served as a Light Infantryman and was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In April 1964, He was awarded the Nebraska National Guard Service Medal and was a Squad Leader. Everett also helped with “Operation On Guard” during the flood season March - April 1960 rendering aid and comfort to many victims. Everett Shinn was honorably discharged after 8 years of service in 1964. Everett was baptized into the Lutheran Church with his two sons on August 13, 1964. Everett enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends, building things with his hands, seeing how things worked and then making one like it or something better, working with his sons and grandkids on projects. He learned how to ski when he was 56 and went on multiple skiing trips with his family until he was almost 80 years old, calling it quits after helping teach his great granddaughter how to ski. Everett and Marilyn loved traveling and enjoyed making new friends at tractor shows and drives in Nebraska and many other states. Everett helped Marilyn plant and grow their garden. They adored dancing the night away at many local venues and Saddle Club events doing the polka or waltz. Everett even taught his daughter-in-law and granddaughters how to dance to his favorite steps. Everett worked many years building houses, laying flooring and doing many jobs in electrical work and plumbing. Everett was a US postal worker for 30 years, he even created his own two steering wheel car for the mail route. He retired at the age of 55 from being a mail carrier, but never really retired from all the odd jobs and mechanicing he did for everyone. Everett was referred to by many as a jack-of-all-trades. He could do carpentry, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, flooring, play accordion, videography, and many other jobs he taught himself. Everett could be found behind the camera at all of his grandchildren’s events, tractor shows, holiday “Shinndigs”, and road trips.
Everett was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Shinn, son, Terry Shinn, parents, Emery Shinn and Esther (Ridder) Shinn, sister and brother-in-law Sally and Harold Riddle, his brother Roland Shinn and his sister-in-law Deb Shinn. He is survived by his son, Gary Shinn (Cynthia) of Fairbury and daughter-in-law, Becky Shinn of Wilber. His grandchildren Ryan Deike (Paul) of Omaha, Johanna Shinn (Aaron Carnahan) of Omaha, Jarrod Shinn (Kendall) of Central City, and Jennifer Hoepker (Alex) of Bartlett, and great-grandchildren Logan and Wyatt Deike, Emery Shinn, Tucker Hoepker, Jayden Hewitt, and Jasper Hoepker. His brothers Dale (Marilyn) of Fairbury, Roger (Karen) of Beatrice, Joe of Alliance, sisters, Ila Jean (Darrell) Fett, Judy (Roger) Schoenrock, sister-in-law Kathy Shinn, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.