Thomas H. Shaw Jr.

THOMAS H. SHAW JR.

Cedar Rapids

Thomas H. Shaw Jr. died on Dec. 8, 2020, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at age 88. Born on June 6, 1932, he was the son of the late Thomas and Gladys Shaw. Tom was born and grew up in Robinsdale, Minn., and graduated from Robinsdale High School. As a young man Tom set out to see the world, pursuing opportunities from Alaska to Texas and working as a crewman on the barges of the Great Lakes, sailing routes from Lake Superior to Lake Erie.

After returning home, in 1955 he married the love of his life, Sherry Patricia O'Neil, also of Robinsdale, Minn. In 1958, with nothing but their 1 year old daughter and a dream, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Tom began a 62 year career as an upholsterer and creator of "all things canvas." Tom owned and operated his own businesses in Cedar Rapids for 60 years beginning with Tom Shaw's Trim All in 1960 and ending when the doors of Clemens Canvas & Mfg closed for the last time just two months before his death in 2020. Tom never turned down a job or turned away a customer, even if it would have been wiser to do so! When Tom did allow himself time away from his work, which wasn't very often, he enjoyed spending time with his buddies on the golf course or in a fishing boat in the Canadian wilderness.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Denise and husband Craig of Stamford, Conn.; son, Robert Shaw of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son, Neil Shaw and wife Jennifer of Boulder, Colo.; his six grandchildren, Charlie (wife Abbey), Sam, McKenna, Megan, Max and Olivia; his sister, Janet Porten of Champlin, Minn.; his former wife, Sherry Shaw of Robinsdale, Minn.; and very special friends, Sherry Reed and Kathy Resewehr, both of Cedar Rapids.

In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his sister, Joan Manning of Robinsdale, Minn.

A private memorial will be held at a later date.