Walter Shekleton

Walter R. Shekleton, age 92 of New Hampton died Thursday evening, March 3, 2011, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 7, 2011, at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his four granddaughters. Lectors will be Paula Schwickerath and Mike Shekleton. Chris Carrier will be the organist accompanying Mary Beth Kamrath and the Holy Family Resurrection Choir. Presenting the offertory gifts are Walter's granddaughters, Christine Schneider, Jean Leichtman, Andrea Shekleton and Paula Schwickerath. Eucharistic Ministers are Sheila Shekleton, Sandy Shekleton and Julie Eckenrod. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton with his ten grandsons serving as pallbearers, Joe Shekleton, Tom Shekleton, Dan Shekleton, Lynn Shekleton, Chris Shekleton, Eddie Shekleton, Robert Shekleton, Jason Shekleton, Michael Shekleton and Richard Shekleton. Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. rosary and a 6:00 p.m. scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at church on Monday. Walter Raymond Shekleton was born September 21, 1918, near Lawler, IA, the son of Gregory and Mary Irene (Boyle) Shekleton. He received his education in rural country school and at St. Joseph Grade School in New Hampton. On February 20, 1946, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, rural Elma, he married Rosella Kobliska. To this union three sons were born. Together the couple farmed southeast of New Hampton from 1948 until retiring in 1979. Rosella died on December 27, 2004, at the age of 84. Walter became a resident of the New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in January of 2009. The love of Walter’s life was his family, visiting with friends and working on the farm. Survivors include three sons, Ed (Sandy) Shekleton, Jim (Barb) Shekleton, Bill (Kathy) Shekleton all of New Hampton; fourteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Rouchka of New Hampton; one brother, Jim Shekleton of St. Louis Park, MN; three sisters-in-law, Margaret Shekleton, Mary Ann Shekleton, both of New Hampton, Rita Kobliska of Alta Vista. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; three brothers, Pat Shekleton, John “Jack' Shekleton and Gene Shekleton; one sister-in-law, Margaret Shekleton; two brothers-in-law, Lester Rouchka and Ed Kobliska.