Area Obituaries
Audra L. Shan, age 95 of Olney, was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at her residence. Audra was born on March 21, 1928 in Noble, IL, the daughter of James E. and Grace (Newlin) Diel. She married Burton Shan on August 5, 1950 at the First United Methodist Church in Olney. He preceded her in death on October 29, 2006. Audra was a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education. The long lineage of teaching in the Diel family began with her dad as a teacher in Decker Township and followed with all her seven siblings graduating from Eastern Illinois University with teaching degrees. Audra began her teaching career at her alma mater, Noble High School. Then she and her husband Burton were both hired as teachers at Equality Township High School in Equality, IL and later at Sumner High School in Sumner, IL where they taught business and agriculture, respectively. Audra had fond memories of teaching at Sumner High School where she and Burton sponsored and chaperoned the ‘64 and ‘68 senior classes to Washington, D.C. and New York City and in l972 they took the next to last graduating class of Sumner High School to Florida. It made her day when she received an envelope full of thank you notes from some of her former students who attended the most recent Sumner All-School Reunion. After the Unit School District No. 10 consolidation, she was transferred to Red Hill High School in Bridgeport, IL. Audra retired in 1987 after a total of 34 years teaching bookkeeping, typing, shorthand, and general business, and sometimes girl’s PE in her early years. Audra was also the yearbook sponsor while teaching at Equality and Sumner. Burton’s desire was always to farm, and Audra shared the same vision of acquiring and developing acreage into the successful farming operation that exists today. After many years of teaching to help support the farming operation, they were able to retire from school and became dedicated to full-time farming. Audra applied her sharp business knowledge by helping maintain the books and records of the family farm up until her death. Audra shared an ardent passion for Fighting Illini basketball with several family members. She followed the regular season and most recently the NCAA tournament, keeping records of scores and winning teams and was looking forward to the Final Four and championship game. She enjoyed her telephone conversations with friends and family. One of her favorite pastimes was solving Sudoku puzzles. She always believed animals were God’s creatures and her two cats, Josie and Sneakers, provided her companionship. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and had attended Immanuel United Methodist Church. She is survived by her sons, Wayne Shan and wife Vivian, Ken Shan and wife Becky, one daughter, Pam Phelps and husband Jim, all of Olney; grandchildren, Kevin Shan (Leslie) of Olney, Karla Orr (Stephen) of Sheridan, IN, Rachel Scott, (Brayden), Jaclyn Shan and Nicole Shan, all of Olney; great-grandchildren, Bailey Shan (fiancée Bridgitte Paddick) Stephanie Shan (fiancé Marshall Barrington), Liam Glassford, Nicholas, Oliver, and Elliott Orr, and Tate and Blake Nohren; sister, Gladys Fitzpatrick of Dousman, WI; brother-in-law, Verne Bear of Marshall, IL; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Joseph Diel, three infant brothers, and sisters Esther Wells, Mary Margaret Knackmuhs, Nell Ambers, Sylvia Moore, Marilyn Bear; sister-in-law Joanne Diel, and sister-in-law Bernita (Shann) Clarkson. A memorial service for Audra will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney, with a visitation beginning one hour prior. Interment will follow at Haven Hill Memorial Gardens in Olney. Memorials can be made to Immanuel United Methodist Church or the animal non-profit organization, Shelter Friends, 227 S. Morgan, Olney, IL.
