Official Obituary of
John P. Shonkwiler
April 5, 1933 ~ July 18, 2012 (age 79) 79 Years Old
John Shonkwiler Obituary
John P. Shonkwiler, 79, of Monticello, passed away on July 18, 2012 at Carle Hospital, Urbana.
Private family services will be held with Mackey-Wright Funeral Home assisting with the arrangements.
John was born in Decatur, IL on April 5, 1933, the son of Robert P. and Mary Dickey Shonkwiler. Survivors include his sister, Mary Alice (Robert) Strodel of Peoria, IL, five nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Suzanne Shonkwiler Olds of Wilmette, IL.
He graduated from the Monticello High School in June, 1951, the University of Illinois, 1955 and Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, in January, 1962 with a Juris Doctor in Law.
Upon graduation from the University of Illinois he entered the U.S. Navy and served a total of 23 years both active and reserve duty. He retired as a Captain in Naval Intelligence in 1978. After law school he worked in his fathers law office until 1965 when he was appointed magistrate, Sixth Judicial Circuit. He then was appointed to fill a vacancy as an associate judge from 1971 to 1972. He was appointed to fill a vacancy as circuit judge by the Supreme Court in 1974. He was elected to that office by the people of Piatt County in 1974 where he served as presiding judge.
He was a judge for 47 years and chief judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, for 18 years.
During his service with the judiciary, he was a Delegate to the National Conference of Special Court Judges, Chairman, Judicial Conference Committee on Contempt, Member of the Assembly, Illinois State Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors, Illinois Judges Association, President, Illinois Judges Association, Member of the Executive Committee, Illinois Judicial Conference, received a commendation from the President of the Illinois Senate for his contribution to Child Support Enforcement, and was a member of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Mentoring.
He believed that service to his community and nation was one of the highest duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655 or a charity of your choice.
Private family services will be held with Mackey-Wright Funeral Home assisting with the arrangements.
John was born in Decatur, IL on April 5, 1933, the son of Robert P. and Mary Dickey Shonkwiler. Survivors include his sister, Mary Alice (Robert) Strodel of Peoria, IL, five nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Suzanne Shonkwiler Olds of Wilmette, IL.
He graduated from the Monticello High School in June, 1951, the University of Illinois, 1955 and Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, in January, 1962 with a Juris Doctor in Law.
Upon graduation from the University of Illinois he entered the U.S. Navy and served a total of 23 years both active and reserve duty. He retired as a Captain in Naval Intelligence in 1978. After law school he worked in his fathers law office until 1965 when he was appointed magistrate, Sixth Judicial Circuit. He then was appointed to fill a vacancy as an associate judge from 1971 to 1972. He was appointed to fill a vacancy as circuit judge by the Supreme Court in 1974. He was elected to that office by the people of Piatt County in 1974 where he served as presiding judge.
He was a judge for 47 years and chief judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, for 18 years.
During his service with the judiciary, he was a Delegate to the National Conference of Special Court Judges, Chairman, Judicial Conference Committee on Contempt, Member of the Assembly, Illinois State Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors, Illinois Judges Association, President, Illinois Judges Association, Member of the Executive Committee, Illinois Judicial Conference, received a commendation from the President of the Illinois Senate for his contribution to Child Support Enforcement, and was a member of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Mentoring.
He believed that service to his community and nation was one of the highest duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655 or a charity of your choice.
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