Todd Wesley Shankel

Todd Wesley Shankel, 53, resident of Nevada, Mo., passed away at his home Saturday, July 12, 2014, following a 25-year battle with diabetes. He was born on June 22, 1961, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Judy Raelene Alexander and Zachary Wesley Pfeiffer.

Todd was a music enthusiast. Nothing gave him greater joy than playing his guitar or drums or writing a new song. He was a free spirit with strong faith in the Lord. Todd was baptized at Hammond United Methodist Church in 1972.

Todd was preceded in death by his father, Zach Pfeiffer. He is survived by his mother, Judy Wise and stepfather, Gary Wise, Nevada; a daughter, Mary Shankel, Fort Scott, Kan.; a son, Bryce Hotchkiss, Minnesota; two brothers Troy Shankel and wife, Linda, Nevada, and Matt Shankel, Grove, Okla.; four sisters, Deana Amicone and husband, Greg, San Antonio, Texas, Jodi Cook and husband, Scott, Kansas City, Lori Thoma and husband, Dan, Illinois, and Brandi Dressler and Joe Richardson, Kansas City; as well as his grandchildren, Daxton and Alayna Wyatt, Fort Scott.

There was cremation. The Rev. Jared Witt will conduct memorial services at 1 p.m., Thursday, July 17, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until service time at the Chapel.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.