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Catherine Ann (Shinn) Liptak 12/29/1930-8/7/2021

Catherine Ann (Shinn) Liptak



Catherine Ann (Shinn) Liptak, age 90, passed away with family at her side at the Sunnyside Nursing Home in Cloquet, MN on August 7, 2021.

She was born December 29th, 1930, in Hart, MI to Eleanor (Osborn) and Hyman Hubert Shinn. She graduated as Valedictorian from Hart High School in 1948; graduating with Honors from the University of Michigan in 1952, with a BA in English and Speech, followed by a Master’s in Library Science. Catherine taught at a number of schools in Michigan and Minnesota until meeting her husband John in 1963, settling in a lake home that John built on Bass Lake after their marriage in Hart, MI on July 25, 1964. She worked at the Virginia Public Library until her retirement in 1993.   

One of the constants in Catherine’s life was her love for her family. She was always quick to share stories about her parents and sisters, growing up on Griswold Street, working at the family drive-in restaurant, and having fun with her cousins. Catherine always enjoyed the large gatherings, such as 4th of July celebrations on Bass Lake and family reunions in Michigan. She spent many years researching her genealogy and made sure that family trips  included stops at various churches and cemeteries in search of records. Catherine also shared her love for opera with her family, playing her music for her young nieces at her summer cottage on Lake Michigan, and taking her children to live performances. She was especially proud of her children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She always enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren and was quick to provide them with some candy or a small trinket whenever she saw them. She continued her parents habit of road trips around the United States, visiting 47 states.

Catherine was very active in her church and community.  She and John were long-time members of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in Biwabik, where she sang in the church choir, served on the Church Council, helped make pasties, serving in the Eastern Star and taught Sunday School. Catherine also served on the local school board and performed a variety of volunteer work over the years including co-leader of Girl Scouts, , organizing annual fund raising for the American Cancer Society, performing Adopt a Highway cleanup, and delivering Meals on Wheels until the age of 82. The church and volunteer work extended to her nine winters in Tucson, Arizona with her husband John where they were associate members of the Church of the Painted Hills UCC and active in their seasonal community.

Catherine’s  life-long passion for books helped define her life. Her love of books led to her career, including time as a Reference Librarian and Director of the Virginia Public Library. It provided her with a lifetime off entertainment and learning, often steering her travel plans to see places she had read about, including a trip to Great Britain, which was the setting for many of her favorites. Her personal library was extensive and carefully recorded alphabetically by author. She enjoyed sorting through the books and providing carefully-selected books as gifts to those she thought would enjoy them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters (Ruth, Gladys and Mary), her husband John of 41 years, and is survived by her daughter Eleanor “Elly” (Erik Boleman), son John H. (Alison Barry), grandsons Adam and Bradley, and great-grandchildren Maci, Jordan, and Bennett; along with a cousin and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the caring/compassionate staff at Evergreen Knoll, Sunnyside Nursing Home, and St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care they provided to Catherine.  Catherine was a one-of-a-kind lady who will be missed greatly by her family.

A memorial service will be held at the Biwabik UCC Church on October 8th, with an internment service in Hart, MI in the Summer of 2022.



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