...Tewksbury D.P.W. and Race Car Driver; 71
LOWELL - James P. Shimkus Sr., age 71, a well known former resident of Tewksbury, died peacefully in his sleep, at his home on Friday, February 23. He was the beloved husband of Marilyn B. (Boesse) (Record) Shimkus, with whom he had celebrated an eleventh year wedding anniversary this past July Fourth.
Jimmy was born in Tewksbury in May 1946, one of four children of the late John and Dorothy (Marsh) Shimkus, and had lived most of his life in Tewksbury, having moved to Lowell last June.
He retired from the Tewksbury Department of Public Works, where he had served for thirty-four years as a heavy equipment operator. Since retirement, he worked for the last seven years as a driver of special children, for the Merrimack Education Collaborative.
Jimmy’s passion was automobile racing, having owned and driven a race car at New Hampshire’s Hudson Speedway and Star Speedway. He also loved “word search puzzles” and building car models, fishing and camping with is wife. But, his most prized time, were the moments he shared with his sixteen grandchildren.
Besides his wife, he leaves six children, James P. Shimkus Jr., and his wife Roseanne (Montuori) of Lowell, Michael S. Shimkus and his wife Joanne (Cicero) of Colebrook, NH, Debra K. Versackas of Lowell, Kenneth R. Record and his fiancée Lyndsey Green of Nashua, NH, Michelle L. Record and her fiancé Fred Toppi of No. Billerica, Robert M. L. Record and his fiancée Rachel Burdick of Lowell; sixteen grandchildren; his siblings, Linda Proctor and her husband Robert of Andover, Dennis Shimkus and his partner Dylan Drake of TX, and Ann Hampson and her husband John of IL; and many dear friends in the car racing sports world.
Relatives and friends will be received Wednesday, February 28, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. His funeral service will be held at Noon in the funeral home, followed by burial in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the American Diabetes Association, 260 Cochituate Rd, Ste. 200, Framingham, MA 01701 or visit www.diabetes.org tewksburyfuneralhome.com