Elaine F. Shaw

Elaine F. Shaw, 82, of Wilson, Kansas passed away peacefully on April 20, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 19, 1933 at her childhood home in Golden Belt Township, Lincoln County, Kansas to Victor and Theresa (Farney) Peterka. Elaine spent her childhood years on the family farm and attended Margaret School. While attending Wilson High School she met and fell in love with R. Malcolm Shaw. She graduated with the Class of 1951 and went on to attend St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Hays, Kansas and became a Registered Nurse in 1954. Elaine and Malcolm were united in marriage on February 8, 1956 and this union was blessed with four children: Mark, Jan, ViAnn, and Lee. Elaine was blessed to have spent over 50 years working as a Registered Nurse. She was an industrial nurse at the Atlas Missile Base, Ellsworth Memorial Hospital, Russell County Hospital, Dr. Thompson in Holyrood, Kansas and Dr. F. A. Dlabal in Wilson, Kansas. She was instrumental in the opening of the Wilson Nursing Center and was the first Director of Nursing, retiring after 34 years of dedicated service. She was a life member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and was active with the Alter Society for many years. Elaine served as the Director of the Wilson Ambulance Service and although she worked many hours caring for and serving others, her greatest accomplishment was being a wife and mother. She was a true friend, a pillar of support, and an ever present sounding board for her husband. Always understanding and quick to smile, she guided her children in a way only a mother can. Elaine enjoyed watching KU basketball, KC Royals baseball, attending sewing club, playing cards, and cooking. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Malcolm, of the home; three sons, Mark (Doris) Shaw and Jan Shaw, both of Wilson, Lee (Janelle) Shaw of Abilene; a daughter, ViAnn (Ken) Schweitzer of Lenexa, two brothers, Eugene Peterka and Donald (Alice) Peterka, both of Wilson; three sisters, JoAnn Steinle and Loyola (Donald) Anschutz, both of Wilson, Kathleen (Dr. Earl) Merkel of Russell, Kansas; three grandchildren: Andrea (Jordan) Hanslovan of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Ian (Sarah) Shaw of Wilson, and Mikiah Dykes of Abilene; a great grandson, Augustus Hanslovan of Cheyenne, Wyoming and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.