Published on May 16, 2025 7:11 am
Last Updated on May 16, 2025 8:09 am
Thomas Eugene Shinn (78) of Newton stepped into the welcoming arms of his Lord and Savior at 1:18 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, Illinois.
Funeral services celebrating Tom’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at the Newton Christian Church with Pastor Danny Ferris officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of services Saturday, May 17th. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Newton.
Tom was born on November 5, 1946, in Olney, Illinois, the son of Ralph L. Shinn and M. LaVange (Kibler) Shinn. Tom graduated from Newton High School in 1964 and from Eastern Illinois University in 1969. Tom began his teaching career in 1969, at West Liberty Grade School and then taught at Willow Hill, Hidalgo and Yale schools until his retirement in May of 2001. He often felt his greatest skill was being able to make people laugh, so he always wanted to find a way of making learning fun. He was a lifelong lover of harness racing and became a U.S. Trotting Association member at age 16 when he bought his first broodmare. Over the years, he raised several successful horses and loved them all regardless of success. Later, he decided he needed to find a way to get paid to go to the horse races, so he became a charter and worked for 50 years in the Big 10, Illini, and Egyptian Colt Associations as well as at the Springfield and DuQuoin state fairs. Tom became a columnist for Illinois Standardbred magazine and also did pedigree research. He recently was honored to be inducted into the Illinois Harness Horse Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service. Tom was a faithful member of the Newton Christian Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, occasional guest speaker, and determined prayer warrior. He loved to sing the old hymns and was known to auction a pie or two to raise money for the Women’s Fellowship group, where his skills as entertainer were once again put to use.
Tom will be loved and remembered by his sister, LeAnn Shinn of Newton, his pets, and so many friends across the state of Illinois.
His parents preceded him in death. Memorial gifts in honor of Tom may be made to either the Newton Chrisitan Church or to Saved by Grace Animal Rescue.
Online condolences may be offered at www.crainfuneral.com.