Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Shotwell, Ellis 2004
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net May 27, 2010, 11:46 pm

Ionia Sentinel, Jan 2004

Ellis Shotwell, 79, of Ionia, passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, in Ionia.  He 
was born Jan. 8, 1924, in Belding, the son of Vernon and Kitty Lawrence 
Shotwell.

He graduated from high school in St. Paul, Minn., in 1942.  In January 1943, he 
went into the Navy for five years, serving during World War II, and learned the 
Japanese Code.  He was in the Navy Secret Service.  He also served in the 
Korean War for 16 months, learning Russian Code for the Secret Service.

Ellis went to Michigan State University in 1947 for three years, where he went 
into radio announcing.  He started at WKAR in East Lansing, then went to WJEF 
Fetzer Broadcasting Co. for three and a half years.  He was the first one on 
the air for WMAX in Grand Rapids.  He also worked part-time for the Detroit 
Free Press, writing newspaper articles.  He was the first one on the air on 
Feb. 3, 1953, for WION – the country music show called Radio Rodeo.  He worked 
for Fisher Body General Motors from 1958 to 1968 before returning to radio, 
which was his love.  Ellis was a member of the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge and was 
currently a member of the Ionia VFW.

He married Clara June Kinney Reed on Dec. 31, 1952, in Ionia.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara, and a grandson, Gregory.  He is 
survived by his children, James Kinney of Ionia, Steve Kinney of Greenville, 
Jane and Patrick Hummel of Ionia, Kitty and Thomas Lower, Jeff and Becky 
Shotwell, Scott and Teresa Shotwell, all of Ionia; 14 grandchildren and nine 
great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Lake Funeral Home, Ionia, with the 
Rev. Kenneth Harger officiating.  Visitation is two hours prior to the 
service.  Anyone wishing may make a memorial contribution to Ionia Area Hospice.


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