John passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 25, 2023, following a short battle with leukemia.

John was born in 1943 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Norbert and Lorraine Shimek.  He grew up playing hockey at the neighborhood rink and he continued playing into his 70s at a local  rink in Renton.

He moved to Denver Colorado in 1965 where he worked and performed at the historic Lowenstein Theater and earned an Associate's degree in law.  It was there that he started his 50+ year career as an "airline guy" with Northwest Airlines, which took him to DC, Florida, and ultimately Seattle.   He loved planes and flying  and earned a private pilot's license.

He was a civil war buff, and in addition to hockey, he was a fan of golf and baseball, and watching the pros was one of his favorite hobbies.

He was quick-witted, had a sarcastic sense of humor, and loved challenging the system even in his last days.

He is survived by his five children: Timothy Shimek, Kris Shimek, Fara Karam (Randy), Michael Shimek (Jody), and Matthew Shimek; seven grandchildren:  Tyler, Fara, Chloe, Sawyer, Saylor,  Jacob, and Walter; six great grandchildren: Kairos, Zoii, Tobias, Josiah, Eddy, and Jude; his brother Steven Shimek,  sister Kristina Zoerb, and his nieces and nephews.

He was deeply loved and is terribly missed.

Memorial details will be made available in the future.