Judith Rosemary Shanks

Judith Rosemary Shanks, 65, of Columbia City, passed away at 7:18 am Monday, February 19, 2018 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. Born August 28, 1952 in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of William and Doris (Granstorm) Johnson.

She grew up moving around quite a bit while growing up. Judy attended local schools in Chicago and after graduating high school, she attended Fort Wayne Bible College where she studied nursing. Judy held her LPN license in the states of Illinois, Florida, Tennessee and Indiana for the past 42 years. While working at a nursing home in Fort Wayne in 1979, she met the man who would change the rest of her life while he was bringing in a patient while working as a medic. The two fell in love and on April 19, 1980; she married Ricky "Rick" Lee Shanks in Fort Wayne.

She was working at the St. Joe Hospital emergency room until 1989 when she became a mom and her focus became raising her daughters and homeschooling them. Judy also babysat for many children over the years.

A faithful Christian, Judy was a member of Saturn Christian Church. In her spare time she enjoyed crafts, making Christmas stockings, reading classic novels and books, watching mystery movies and cooking shows, including Pioneer Women. Judy was a fantastic cook. She loved Christmas time and Thanksgiving and did a great job preparing the holiday meals. Her Thanksgiving turkey plus her excellent roast, rice pudding, Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs will be missed.

She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Rick Shanks; daughters, Julie Shanks and Christina Shanks; mother, Doris Johnson, of Chicago, Ill.; brothers, Dr. Greg (Jenny) Johnson, of Tennessee, Loren (Polly) Johnson, of Phelps, Wisc. and Ted (Kathy) Johnson, of Bowling Green, Ky.;and sister, Julie Ann (Mark) Demrose, of Streamwood, Ill.. She was preceded in death by her Father, William Johnson; and infant twins, Amanda Sue and Heather Lynn Shanks.

Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with her funeral service beginning at 2 p.m. Pastor Russell Riley of Saturn Christian Church will be officiating. Burial will follow at Broxton Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Judy's memory toward her final expenses in care of DeMoney-Grimes. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family online condolences.