With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Neil Shimp lived a vibrant life full of learning, giving, and loving. He was community minded and generous when it came to sharing his passions with those around him. Neil was a dedicated husband and father who encouraged his children to work hard, supporting them in every way. A man who loved the outdoors, he found true peace and solitude while on the water, especially when he was surrounded by his loved ones. There were few who met Neil and left unchanged, a unique gift given to those too numerous to count. It seems only fitting that Neils story begins during a time that was as vibrant as he was. The Roaring Twenties were in full swing with jazz music, motion pictures that became available in color and sound, and the explosion of American baseball. It was in 1927 that a young couple from Akron, Ohio, was pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy on August 19th. Neil was the older of two boys born to his parents, Raymond and Linda (Ullman) Shimp, and was raised in the family home alongside his younger brother, Norman. His father worked as a retail store manager, which moved their family around quite a bit, while his mother was a busy homemaker. For the most part, Neil experienced an upbringing that was reflective of the times. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father and his friends. Neils father had a cabin on a lake in Northern Michigan where he spent many summers hunting and fishing in the back woods. As a student he attended local schools wherever they were living including junior high in Grand Haven. Neil's family loved the fact that he carved his name in a tree in Duncans Woods and it remains there today. By the time he was in high school Neil was attending Jackson High School along with a special friend, Norm Bonema. He graduated in 1945. Like so many other young men of his time, Neil served in the military during WWII beginning in 1945. He was a sailor in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Tabberer stationed in the Pacific. Neil was assigned to work in the engine room during his time in the service. After being honorably discharged in 1946, Neil soon wound up in East Lansing where he attended Michigan State University. Education was always of the utmost importance to him, and he loved learning. Neil earned a BS in agronomy and an MS in chemistry from Michigan State in addition to a PhD in chemistry at Rutgers University. Neil's favorite college memory was being taken by his professor to visit Mr. Pratt of Pratt & Whitney fame to get funding for his PhD project. Mr. Pratt was so impressed with Neil that he gave him a check for $10,000 to support his research, a large sum in the early 50's. New and exciting changes were in store for Neil when he met the young woman who stole his heart. Her name was Virginia Gensterblum, from Portland, MI. They were married 55 years before Virginia passed away in 2005. With a desire to build a life together the couple was married on August 24, 1949, deeply in love. After Neil received his masters degree at MSU, the couple moved to Florida where Neil worked on citrus tree diseases. Since Neil was not a fan of the hot climate in Florida, the couple left Florida to pursue Neils PhD at Rutgers. Together they were blessed with two children, Dale and Audrey. The growing family spent four years living in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but they spent more than 30 years living in the light blue house with a white picket fence in Urbana, Illinois. As a parent Neil emphasized education and reading and was very involved in his childrens education. He tried to instill honesty and accountability in them and saw to it that they received ample exposure to culture and the arts. Neil was a very attentive parent who always encouraged his children in everything they chose to take on. Spending time as a family was also a vital part of the Shimp family, and some of their favorite times were spent frequently fishing on their boat. They visited several areas of the country together including Virginia Beach, Virginia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Washington, D.C. as well as several visits to Canada with Neils father and his family where they stayed in a cabin in the woods. They also visited the World's Fair in Montreal together. When they were home, the family always sat down for dinner every day to share about their various experiences that day. They always had at least one family cat as Neil greatly enjoyed the companionship they provided. It was unclear who liked the ritual of brushing, the Persian cat or Neil. It was quite the sight when Neil and Audrey were pulling their boat, the Ginny J., named after Virginia, and found their cat, Amber, sitting on the captains chair as they were driving along the road! For over 30 years Neil worked at the Illinois State Geological Survey where his research focused on clean coal technologies until he retired in 1990. His early work focused on measuring toxic metals in Lake Michigan. He currently has 2 books for sale on Amazon regarding this seminal work. He did pioneering work on analysis of sediments in Antarctica. In his final works, Neil developed and patented new methods for developing clean coal. Neil has 29 works in 33 publications and 485 library holdings. Neil won an honorary award at the Survey. There were so many things that enriched Neils life through the years. He was very interested in the geology of Michigan and a member of a rock club who gave presentations at local schools on Michigan rocks and geology. Neil also volunteered at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum where he designed the museums Michigan geology exhibit, which contained examples of rocks from all over Michigan. He was a popular tour guide telling many stories of life in early Michigan. In recognition of his extraordinary work the museum presented Neil with the Historian of the Year award in 2004. An avid outdoorsman, he loved camping in Muskegon and fishing on both Lake Muskegon and Lake Michigan. He primarily loved fishing for bass, walleye, and salmon, and he also enjoyed cleaning, cooking, and eating them fresh. After he retired Neil moved back to his boyhood home near Grand Haven, Michigan, where he could take full advantage of the areas boating, fishing, and cross county skiing. He was an avid reader who had a diverse collection of books, and Zane Grey was among his favorite authors. Neil additionally loved music, especially big band and swing music. Throughout his life Neil touched others in such a unique way. His son will never forget the time he went looking at college campuses with his father. Audrey treasured the times she lived in a nearby city when both she and Neil drove to meet halfway at Clinton Lake in Illinois on a weekly basis to spend time together, just the two of them. Neil also shared special friendships with Dietrich Haeling, a geologist from the University of Heidelberg Germany, with whom Neil corresponded for decades and visited frequently, too. Professor Paul Potter, a geology professor at University of Cincinnati, was also a colleague and friend. Neil was actively involved in the foster grandparent program in Holland, and he treasured his adopted grandchildren, Anna and Alice. Through the life he lived each day, Neil Shimp taught us so much about what it means to be a person of character, integrity, and humility. He inspired so many people within his reach to be the very best person they could be. Neil will be deeply missed and warmly remembered. Neil F. Shimp died on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Neils family includes his son, Dale (Nancy) Shimp of Sacramento, CA and daughter, Audrey Shimp of Chicago, IL. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 6, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at Freedom Village, 145 Columbia Ave., Holland, MI. Interment Friday, 10:30 a.m. at Lakeshore Cemetery-Grand Haven. Memorial donations can be made to Tri-Cities Historical Museum. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory.
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