Fred Shapansky, 97, of Cook, MN passed away on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the Cook Hospital, with his family by his side.

Fred was born February 9, 1921 in Greaney, MN, in a log cabin on the family homestead of John and Selma (Ardin) Shapansky. He was the youngest of 5 children.

Fred grew up in Greaney and attended the newly built brick school (which replaced the old one-room School) from grades 1-9 after which the high school students were bused to the Orr High School. He graduated from that school in 1939. He worked on the family farm until his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in September, 1942. He served as a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber with the 345 ^th Bomb squadron or the 98 ^th bomb group of the 15 ^th Air Force that was based in Leece, Italy at the time. After his discharge in October of 1945, he lived and worked in Minneapolis, MN, until returning to Cook, MN in 1948.

In 1949, he became an employee at H.C. Hill and Son's (now Hill Wood Products) where he worked for 34 years, retiring in 1983 as plant superintendent.

In 1980, he married Irma (Eklund) Hill, now deceased, and after retirement, they built a retirement home in west Wakemup Village on Lake Vermilion where they lived for many years.

Fred is preceded in death by his wife-Irma; his parents-John and Selma Shapansky; step-son-John M. Hill; 3 brothers-Karl, John and William (who died in infancy); and one sister-Ella (Axel) Finnila; all of his uncles and aunts, and many of his cousins, both first and second; also, one niece, one nephew and one grandson.

He is survived by four step-children: Julie (Greg) Rostvit of Owatonna, Mn; Cindy (John deceased ) Hill of Cook, Mn; Jane (Allen) Treibel of Webster City IA; and Jennifer Wilenius of Mifflin PA; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; 2 nieces-Pat Shapansky and Carol (Ron) Gomez of Minneapolis, MN; and 2 nephew- Karl (Mary) Shapansky and Jack (Janney) Shapansky of Florida, and their families; many first and second cousins and their families. Per Fred's wishes, there will be a private family burial in the Cook Cemetery.

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