James E. Shanel Obituary, Death – James E. Shanel, 96, of Wheaton, IL, joined his wife in Heaven May 3, 2022. A long time resident of Glen Ellyn, IL and Fort Myers, FL, Jim was born March 11, 1926, and grew up in Riverside, IL. He graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School in 1944 where he met his high school sweetheart Sparky (Loraine) in US History class.
Jim enlisted two weeks following graduation and served our country as a Private, First Class in the US Army Infantry Riflemen Unit. Jim was a bazooka gunner of a recoiless rocket antitank weapons in General George Patton’s army division and was decorated with the honors of two Bronze Stars. Jim returned from WWII and married Sparky.
He took advantage of the GI Bill and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL. In 1955, Jim founded Control’d Engineering Supply (Everything is Under Control’d), a heating and air conditioning wholesale distribution company based in Glen Ellyn, IL, Rockford, Il, Alsip, Il, and Lake Bluff, Il.
He served as national president of ARW (Association of Refrigeration Wholesalers). Jim retired to Fort Myers, FL, Silver Lake MI, and Long Beach, IN with Sparky, his loving wife of 64 years. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Spark, his son Scott, his parents Emil and Mary (Taraba) Shanel, and his sister Camile Most.
He was the loving father of Kathleen Shanel of Folsom, CA; Christy Murphy of Highland Park, IL; James (Jim) Shanel (Leslye Sandburg) of Paris, Kentucky; and William (Bill) (Susie) Shanel of St. Charles, IL. Jim was the proud grandfather of Patricia Hogan; Kristina (Jonathan) Miller; Andy (Amy) Marsch; Kenny (Brittany) Marsch; Scott (Heather) Marsch; William (Hillary) Marsch; Christopher (Cody) Murphy; James (Laura) Shanel; Mollye Shanel (Nick); Kathryn (Katie)(Rob) Lovato; and Ashley Shanel and Will Shanel.
Jim was also blessed to be the great-grandfather of Andrew (Drew), Logan, Emily (Mimi), Graham, Holter, Lawson, Rexie, Parke, Audrey, Vera, Colette, and Claire. Following the passing of Jim’s wife, Jim moved to a townhome in Wyndemere Senior Community where he resided with his longtime friend and former business associate, Loretta (“Rusty”) Osowski of Darien, Il.
Visitation is Monday May 9, 2022, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home 430 E. Roosevelt Rd. Wheaton, IL 60187. Additional visitation and prayer service to be held at Tuesday 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Petronille Catholic Church 420 Glenwood Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Interment will be at St. Michael Cemetery Wheaton, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
