Billy Dean Shaw, the youngest of 12 children of Joseph and Jessie (Lowers) Shaw, was born July 19, 1936, in Audubon County, Iowa and died January 15, 2022, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa; at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
On March 22, 1958, he was united in marriage to Shirley Small at the Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa by Reverend Lawrence Works. They were the parents of three sons Allan, James, Bradley, and one daughter Rhonda. In 1955, Bill was employed by the City of Audubon, working in various positions. On May 7, 1962, he began his career in law enforcement serving as Chief of Police. He served the community in that position for a number of years. In November, 1973, Bill was elected Sheriff of Audubon County and held that position for over 28 years until his retirement in 2000. He received the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the Audubon Chamber of Commerce for more than 40 years of dedicated service to the community.
Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. He was a member of the Audubon Crime Stoppers, Gideons International, and the Audubon Lions Club. Bill was very musical and throughout his life, loved to play his guitar and sing. He was a member of several bands over the years and performed at many events in Audubon County. He also volunteered his time singing with the residents at the Friendship Home.
Preceding him in death were his parents Joseph and Jessie Shaw; his sisters: Nedra Lacy, Evelyn Johnson, Edna Herrick, Norma McMann; his brothers: Garnet Reed Shaw, Jerome Shaw, and Gordon Shaw.
Survivors include his wife for over 63 years, Shirley Shaw of Audubon, Iowa; his children: Allan and wife Angie Shaw of Enid, Oklahoma; Rhonda and husband Brad Balding of Denver, Colorado; James and wife Crystal Shaw of Groveland, Illinois; and Bradley and wife Angie Shaw of Washington, Illinois; his grandchildren: Shanleigh Shaw of Denver, Colorado; Taylor and wife Jessica Balding of Denver, Colorado; Erin and husband Zachary Fisher of Knoxville, Tennessee; Taylor Blake of Peoria, Illinois; Hunter Shaw and Carson Shaw both of Groveland, Illinois; Amanda Shaw of Washington, Illinois; and Austin Shaw of Flagstaff, Arizona; his great grandchildren: Isabella and Aubrey Fisher both of Knoxville, Tennessee; his sisters: Alice and husband Duane Brown of Atlantic, Iowa; and Opal Smith of Clarion, Iowa; his brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Lloyd “Butch” and wife Colleen Small of Atlantic, Iowa; and Darlene Myers of Perry, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends
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The family will meet with friends on Wednesday evening January 19, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The family has requested everyone who attends the services to wear a mask. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis on Thursday afternoon, January 20, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Allan Shaw, James Shaw, Brad Shaw, Brad Balding, Taylor Balding, Zachary Fisher, and Todd Johnson.
