John J. "Jack" Shankland

DOYLESTOWN - John J. “Jack” Shankland, age 86, of Doylestown, Ohio died on Thursday afternoon, January 18, 2024.

John was born on September 11, 1937 to the late John Herman and Helen Mary (Whitman) Shankland of Doylestown Ohio. He was the second eldest of seven children and the first son. John came from a wonderful and loving family. However, when he was very young John unexpectedly lost his father, who was returning home from military service in World War II on Dec 18, 1945. John was raised by his single, widowed, mother on the Whitman family farm. John's great-great-great grandfather , George Whitman, was one of the first settlers of Chippewa Township and the farmhouse served as the location for catholic masses until the construction of Sts. Peter & Paul Church. 

John, being a farmer, heart and soul, spent his whole life tending to the family farm. Furthermore, even in his elder years, you could still catch him on a tractor, bailing hay, or feeding the livestock. A man of great strength, mind, body and soul, John lived a very active life. In his youth, he was a cub scout. As he grew into adulthood, when he was not farming, he was a member of the Wayne County Farm Bureau, Catholic Order of Foresters, the Doylestown Lions Club, Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society. John’s many talents included crafter, inventor, and talented musician. He enjoyed playing guitar and singing. John had listened to his father as a child playing and singing. From the moment he received his first guitar at age 14 he never put it down. In fact, John had some success with his music career playing and singing from the age of 18 to 36 with the Blue Diamond. At 36 he then played and sang with the Velvet Touch for a few more years until stepping away to start his family with Colleen. Though they did always squeeze in time on Saturday nights to go dancing together and listening to music. John found his love of music again around 20 years ago and it gave him so much joy. Until the age of 86, he was still playing for family and with friends. 

Before John settled on his career of farming and owning 3J Manufacturing Company John did as much as possible to provide for his family. At 14 John left home to live and work on a local farm to milk cows, feed hogs, and tend to the cattle. John made $30.00 a month at that job, and he worked at it for three to four years. John also worked at JM Smucker’s, Gerstenslager Co., painted houses, painted cars, barns and did bodywork. After all of those years John needed to find a solution to help with filling the silos and was looking to provide financial security for his growing family. At that time John built owned and managed 3J Manufacturing Company and had invented a distributor for silos, for which he had several patents. His foundry was located at the family farm in Doylestown. John made everyday count and was always there with a helping hand, be it for a neighbor, family, or even a stranger. He had a great big heart and was a great listener.

John met the love of his life; Colleen Bachman and they were married for 51 years. Together they raised three beautiful daughters. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, his three daughters, Denise Millar and spouse Robert, Jeanien Frantz (Brian Gray), Jennifer Anderson and spouse Eric; his beloved granddaughter, Sarah Frantz; sister Theresa A. (Stan) Nitz, brother, Gerald R. Shankland; brother-in-law, Thomas J. Koch, as well as many nieces and nephews; special friends, Seth Houser, Michael Ashcraft, and Jay Thompson and many more. In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his elder sister Evelyn (Ed) Whitman Bradshaw, brothers Anthony and James F. Shankland and youngest sister, Patricia E Koch.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 161 W. Clinton St., Doylestown, OH, 44230 with Fr. Peter Morris, Celebrant.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Calling hours will be on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Zak-Thacker & Monbarren Funeral Home, 132 N. Portage St., Doylestown, OH, 44230.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Wayne County Schools Career Center, AG Mechanics - Attn: Nate Gaubatz, 518 Prospect St., Smithville, OH 44677. Online obituary and guest registry are available at www.zakmonbarrenfh.com  

(Zak-Thacker & Monbarren, 330-658-2211)

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