Owen Shacklee

Owen M. Shacklee, 84, of Belvidere, IL passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at his home following a long and courageous battle with Leukemia. He was born on March 2, 1938, to the late Jerome and Alice (Fruith) Shacklee in Clement Township, IL. He attended Belvidere Schools and went on to join the United States Marine Corp and served from 1951-1957. Owen was a very proud Veteran and shared many adventures in his time while in service. While he was stationed at Base Pendleton, CA he met the love of his life Leila G. Wood and they were married on July 2, 1959, in Pomona, CA. They celebrated 42 years of marriage and raised 4 children together. Owen worked at CamCar Textron in Belvidere, IL for 27 years. He retired in 2002 after many years of hard work. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, and take his family camping. He enjoyed collecting firearms and enjoyed teaching his children about firearms and firearm safety. Owen enjoyed woodworking and leather works, in which he gifted many of his creations to his family over the years. He had a great passion for reading and could sit for hours enjoying a western or crime novel. Owen loved to watch western movies or tv shows even while enduring long hours of cancer treatment. He was a wonderful story teller, who would reminisce many memories of his youth, growing up, and working. Owen loved to tell jokes and laugh. Owen was a very caring and dedicated father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Owen is loved and will be deeply missed by his children, Darlene (Russ) Cameron, Donna (Jim) McElroy, Doreen (Randy) Nemec, Don (Pam) Shacklee; grandchildren, Erica Boenzi, Sonya Holman, Brandon (Briana) Nemec, Shannon (Joe) Baraconi, Amanda (Anthony) Scotellaro, Kayla (Jay) Shacklee, Carin (Josh) Wells; great grandchildren, Domonic Holman, Jonathan Boenzi, Lexi Holman, Avorie Nelson, Hudson Scotellaro, Huxley Nemec; baby Scotellaro due in August 2023; sister Eva (Leroy) Koltz; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome, and Alice; beloved wife, Leila; brothers, William “Bud” Shacklee, Charles Shacklee. The family would like to thank Dr. Einhorn, nurses, and staff from UW Cancer Center for all their compassionate care, kindness, and support they gave during his treatments and many visits. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 A.M. at Belvidere Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Belvidere, IL. Memorials can be made to the family in Owen’s name.