Wade Shipman

WADE SHIPMAN

Cedar Rapids

Wade Shipman, 60, left this earth on Friday, July 3, 2015, while cycling, an activity he loved. He was born on May 16, 1955, the firstborn son of Miriam and Don Shipman, in Des Moines, Iowa. Wade attended Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He then graduated from Northeast Missouri State University and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He served in the United States Army for 10 years where he attained the rank of major. His duty stations included Hawaii; Yuma, Ariz.; San Antonio, Texas; and Leavenworth, Kan. His anesthesia training was at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, from 1984 to 1987. In 1989, Wade joined Mercy Hospital as a staff anesthesiologist, eventually becoming the medical director of the Seminole Surgery Center and the Montclair Surgery Center. He was a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology and the Missouri Society of Anesthesiology.

Wade married his beloved wife, Shanne Laman Shipman, and together they moved to Springfield, Mo., in 1987. Their daughter, Cara Renae, was born in 1991. Wade was a devoted family man whose love for Shanne and Cara was unyielding. He was a hands-on dad from the day Cara was born and he adored her beyond measure. Wade's other passions included his extended family, his friends, his colleagues, his patients, his church and the outdoors. Wade always said he felt blessed to have his job and he was named a 417 Magazine "Top Doctor" for many years. He was a member of Highland Springs Country Club and an avid cyclist, hunter and fisherman. He especially loved bird hunting with his cherished German Shorthair Pointers, Bella and Suzy. Wade recently purchased a farm in Kansas and was discovering a newfound enthusiasm for farming. He was a member of King's Way United Methodist Church and in the last 10 years had experienced a period of amazing spiritual growth. He was continually grateful to God for the many blessings in his life.

Wade was preceded in death by his father, Don H. Shipman; first wife of six years, Sharon Shipman; in-laws, Brenda and Jerry Laman; and sister-in-law, Hope Laman.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Shanne; daughter, Cara; mother, Miriam Shipman; siblings Leslee Grabe and Todd Shipman; brother-in-law, Brad Bernstein; sister-in-law, Gaye Laman; nephew, Dustin Grabe; nieces, Megan Wright (Andy) and Savannah Conley (Patrick); and great-nieces and nephews, Jonah Grabe, Harper Wright, Wyatt Wright and Georgi Conley.

Wade was generous and selfless, always putting the needs of those around him before his own. Those who knew him will miss Wade's sense of humor, his ability to pull a prank, his eternal optimism, his compassion for others, his enthusiasm for life and his unfaltering devotion to faith, family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, in the chapel at King's Way United Methodist Church, Springfield, Mo. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at King's Way.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to King's Way United Methodist Church or the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.