seeking relatives of Helen Joanne Shumway

Question

Jo was my paternal grandmother, and this is the only name I have for her. I'm unsure if Shumway was a maiden name or other married name. She was married to Bobby Hunter.

Answer 1

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL4-KG13

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Shumway&GSiman=1&GScid=107651&GRid=93705936&      

Helen Joan Wallin Shumway

Birth:     Feb. 19, 1926
Hordville
Hamilton County
Nebraska, USA
Death:     Apr. 12, 2004
Geneva
Kane County
Illinois, USA

Helen J. Shumway, 78, of Batavia, died Monday, April 12, 2004 at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva. Sometimes a bumper sticker really does say it all. The one on her car read, "Women make great leaders. You are following one." She supported her children and grandchildren, her political beliefs, and her church with her actions as well as her words. Anything Mrs. Shumway did, she did with the full force of her considerable personality, energy, and talents. If she joined a club or group, she inevitably became the Women's Club president, Girl Scout leader, or Holy Cross Christmas Bazaar director. As a dedicated Republican, she began her volunteer work in local politics as a Republican precinct committee person, advancing to Batavia Township Republican chairperson. During that time, she attended the Kane County Republican Convention where Dennis Hastert was selected to run for congressman.

She was born in Hoardville [sic, recte Hordville], Neb. on Feb. 19, 1926. Raised on an original family homestead, she learned as a youngster to drive a tractor, shoot a gun, and do all the other things her brothers were doing. The family moved to Illinois during the Great Depression. She graduated from Batavia High School in 1943 and married Melvin M. Hann, also of Batavia, Feb. 26, 1946. The couple had three daughters, Beth, Barbara, and Mary. Melvin Hann died in 1968 in Ottawa.

On July 11, 1970, she married a high school classmate, John R. Shumway, who had lost his wife, Mary, in a tragic car accident. Mrs. Shumway and John's "Brady Bunch" wedding featured three priests at the altar and nine children, ranging in age from 18 months to 22 years old. After marrying John, Mrs. Shumway took up flying and snow skiing. In their later years, the couple spent every February in Kauai, roaming up and down dirt can roads. As owners of C.W. Shumway and Sons Foundry in Batavia, they traveled to conventions and to reunions of John's Naval Air Group 87. Lately, emphysema limited her activities, but she enjoyed many family reunions and fishing tournaments.

Mrs. Shumway died Monday, April 12, at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva of respiratory failure. She is survived by John R. Shumway, her husband of 34 years; four sons, John Jr. of Batavia, Bruce of Cable, Wis., Paul (D'Ette) of Elburn, and William of Hayward, Wis.; and five daughters, Beth (Roger) Stafford of Mequon Wis., Barb (Carl) Sniffen of Grants Pass, Ore., Mary (Cliff) Remiyac of Grants Pass, Ore., Stephanie (Bob) Wilder of Baxter, Minn., and Susan (Sam) Harrod of South Elgin. She has 15 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; a sister, Janet (Richard) Johnson; and a brother, Richard (Mary Ann) Wallin. Mrs. Shumway was preceded in death by her father, Sture Wallin, and mother, Sarah Peterson Wallin; her brother, Robert Wallin; her first husband, Melvin M. Hann; and her daughter-in-law, Lynn Shumway.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Moss Family Funeral Home, Batavia. Church visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 16, at Holy Cross Church with the celebration of a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Geneva. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association.

[Published in The Kane County (IL) Chronicle, Wednesday, April 14, 2004]
 
Family links:
 Parents:
  Sture Nils Wallin (1892 - 1979)
  Sara Elizabeth Peterson Wallin (1894 - 1986)
 
 Spouse:
  John Robert Shumway (1925 - 2005)*
 
*Calculated relationship
 
Burial:
Resurrection Cemetery
Geneva Township
Kane County
Illinois, USA
Plot: Section A, Lot 76
 
Created by: DESchuett
Record added: Jul 16, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 93705936

Comments

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=93368278

Birth:	Jul. 26, 1925 Colorado Springs El Paso County Colorado, USA
Death:	May 8, 2005 Geneva Kane County Illinois, USA
John Robert Shumway, Sr., 79, of Batavia, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva.  Mr. Shumway's lifelong love of photography began during his high school years, led to his enrollment in photography training during World War II and years later prompted him to install an elaborate basement darkroom. He leaves his family with an incredible visual legacy. (In fact for a time, family members came to believe that if it wasn't on videotape, it never happened.) He "went digital" in his seventies, spending hours at the computer emailing grandkids and friends, sharing his latest photos and purchasing antique cameras on EBay.  Mr. Shumway's charm, enthusiasm and sense of adventure served him in his professional and personal life. As a co-owner of the family business, C.W. Shumway and Sons Foundry, he obtained a pilot's license to deliver customer's castings and developed new business during numerous terms as president of the Chicago's Foundrymen's Association.  He was born in Colorado Springs, CO, July 26, 1925. Ranch life included riding his horse to school and bringing home the occasional Jack Rabbit for his mother to fix for dinner. The family moved to Batavia when Mr. Shumway was 13-years-old to assist with the foundry business. While attending Batavia High School he worked as a photographer for the Batavia Herald and was a pole-vaulter.  He graduated from Batavia High School in 1943 then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, training at the Great Lake Naval Center, working towards his final discharge rank of Photographer's Mate Second Class. He served during World War II on the USS Ticonderoga and USS Quincy. Mr. Shumway married Mary Stephano on August 31, 1946. The couple enjoyed skiing trips, boating, camping and competitive air racing as they raised four boys and two girls. A natural athlete, he thrilled family members for years by walking across the backyard on his hands, slalom water-skiing and tackling Black Diamond snow ski runs.  Mr. Shumway's community service includes 21 years as a member of Batavia's volunteer fire department, Board of Directors of Batavia Savings and Loan and Batavia Bank and the Knights of Columbus.  After 23 years of marriage, Mary Shumway was killed in a tragic car accident. On July 12, 1970, Mr. Shumway married a high school classmate who had been widowed. Helen (Wallin) Hann and John's "Brady Bunch" wedding featured three priests at the altar and nine children, ranging in age from 18 months to 22 years old.  In their later years, the couple spent every February in Kauai, HI and traveled to reunions of Mr. Shumway's Naval Air Group 87. He also enjoyed mowing acres of grass and catching (and releasing) fish at the couple's getaway in nearby Elburn.  Mr. Shumway died Sunday, May 8, at Delnor-Community Hospital of respiratory failure. He is survived by four sons, John, Jr. of Batavia, Bruce (Joan) of Cable, WI, Paul (D'ette) of Elburn and William of Hayward, WI; and five daughters, Beth (Roger) Stafford of Milwaukee, WI, Barb (Carl) Sniffen of Grants Pass, OR, Mary (Cliff) Remiyac of Grants Pass, OR, Stephanie (Bob) Wilder of Baxter, MN, and Susan (Sam) Harrod of South Elgin.  He has 15 grandchildren, Nicole (Adam) Marshall of Maple Park, Katie Remiyac, Thomas Remiyac, Neil Sniffen and Brian Sniffen of Grants Pass, OR, Michael Ewing and Rebecca Ewing of Milwaukee, WI, Matthew Shumway and Ryan Shumway of Elburn, Charlie Shumway of Hayward, WI, Christine (Nate) Binsfield of St. Cloud, MN, Heather Wilder and Kevin Wilder of Baxter, MN, and Ethan Harrod and Jillian Harrod of South Elgin. There are two great-grandchildren, Chase Marshall and Riley Marshall of Maple Park; and a sister, Ruth Ness.  Mr. Shumway was preceded in death by his father, Robert Shumway; and mother, Eva Stark Shumway; his brothers, Charles Shumway and David Shumway; a sister, Mary Shumway Anderson; his first wife, Mary Stephano Shumway; and his second wife, Helen Wallin Shumway; and his daughter-in-law, Lynn Shumway.  Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Church visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 13 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 Main St., with the celebration of a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 37W210 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association, 1749 S. Naperville Rd., Suite 202, Wheaton, IL 60187. For information, call the association at (630)260-9600.  For funeral information, call Moss Family Funeral Home at (630)879-7900.  [Published in The Beacon News (Aurora, IL), May 11, 2005]    Family links:   Parents:   Robert Millard Shumway (1878 - 1957)   Eva S. Stark Shumway (1889 - 1991)    Spouses:   Mary Rose Stephano Shumway (1925 - 1969)   Helen Joan Wallin Shumway (1926 - 2004)    Siblings:   Mary K. Shumway Anderson (1913 - 1985)*   Ruth J. Shumway Ness (1915 - 2014)*   John Robert Shumway (1925 - 2005)   *Calculated relationship   Inscription: USN WWII BATAVIA F.D.
Burial: Resurrection Cemetery  Geneva Township Kane County Illinois, USA Plot: Section A, Lot 76
Created by: DESchuett Record added: Jul 09, 2012  Find A Grave Memorial# 93368278

Answer 2

Nothing on this individual, but some background: The name Shumway is unique to the New World. Best I know they're all descended from a Huguenot called "Pierre/Peter Chamois", which last name may have been his trade, a tanner. The name got respelled to Shumway very quickly. The name Shumway is especially common in central Massachusetts. If you follow the Shumway ancestors back, you will almost certainly end up there.