Edwin R. Shannon

Edwin R. Shannon, 87, of Appleton died at home, surrounded by loving family, on Friday, September 3, 2004. He was born on March 18, 1917 in Appleton to the late Edwin W. Shannon and Erna Grundeman Shannon. He graduated from Lawrence College in 1939, then earned a Master's degree in music at Northwestern University. After teaching in Louisiana and Illinois, he returned to Appleton in 1945 to raise a family and manage Shannon Office Supply, which had been started by his father in 1904.

Music was an ongoing theme in Ed's life. At age four he sang ‘O Tannenbaum' in German at the Knights of Pythias Hall. He picked up the violin in sixth grade and went on to be concertmaster of the Appleton High School orchestra (which took second place in a national music tournament and played at the Chicago World's Fair) and the Lawrence College orchestra. He was violin soloist at his Lawrence and Northwestern commencement concerts and was elected to the national honorary music fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda. He later played violin in the Lawrence, Fox Valley, and Green Bay symphonies and for Attic Theatre musicals and other productions. He appreciated good music of all kinds.

Ed's interests were wide-ranging. As a young man, he earned a pilot's license and enjoyed flying. Very much a do-it-yourselfer, Ed Shannon enjoyed working with his hands: he built his own photo enlarger and darkroom, and remodeled several houses. He traveled widely, and especially loved Kenya. He enjoyed the companionship of his music and fishing comrades, and was pleased to be a member of Appleton Rotary Club and the High Lake Eating and Boating Society. He volunteered his talents and efforts to various educational and service organizations. Ed Shannon will be remembered by many for his intellectual curiosity, his respect for nature and humankind, and his gentle sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Dillon Shannon of Appleton; son Michael R. Shannon (fiancée Jody Marks), Duluth, Minnesota; and daughter Rachel M. Shannon (husband Stephen Weis), Appleton. His step-children are Michael Furstenberg (wife Diane, children Rayne and Kimbre Lee; her husband Tim Kiley and their children Cana, Cooper, Letty Rose, and Cecilee) of Black Creek; Noel Grunwaldt (husband Joel, children Peter, Sarah, and Paul; his wife Melissa and their children Hawkin and Maizie) of Anchorage, Alaska; Stephen Furstenberg (wife Mary) of Neenah; and David Furstenberg (wife Susan, children Erich and Meghan) of Waupaca. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Scott Lester Shannon.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 E. College Avenue, Appleton. Visitation will be between 10:00 and 11:00 AM.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Lee Vogel and the many kind and caring friends, neighbors and hospice personnel who assisted Ed in his final journey.