Luanne Shoemaker

Rosewood Heights: Luanne Shoemaker, 57, passed away at 3:25am on Sunday, December 7, 2014, at Barnes – Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born on May 28, 1957, in Wood River, the daughter of the late Lewis and Barbara (Painter) Stanton. She married Gary Shoemaker on August 11, 1979, in Bethalto and he survives. Other survivors include three daughters and two sons in law: Marissa and Kevin Dunn of Grant Fork, Illinois, Kimberly and Chris Phillips of Wood River, Whitney Shoemaker of Alton, two sisters and a brother in law: Mary Beth Minton of Bethalto, Tena and Richard Pratt of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, one brother and sister in law: David and Cathy Stanton of Bethalto, her grand dogs, grand cats, and she was a loving aunt to her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was employed by the Alton School District as a teacher in the Early Childhood Special Education Department. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Wood River. She was very involved in animal rescue where she fostered dogs. She enjoyed bird watching and camping at Carlinville Lake. In celebration of her life, visitation will be from 4pm to 8pm on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River. Funeral services will be held at 10am on Thursday, December 11, 2014, at the First Christian Church in Wood River. Walter McCaslin will officiate. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. Memorials are suggested to the Pay it Forward Animal Welfare whose website is pifanimalwelfare.com or to the First Christian Church in Wood River and will be accepted at the funeral home.