Christopher Ray Shimboff Sr.,(86) of Effingham

Christopher Ray Shimboff Sr., 86, of Effingham, relocated to his heavenly home at 3:38 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2016 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services celebrating Chris’ legacy will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 9, 2016, at Effingham Bible Church, 710 W. Jefferson Av., Effingham, IL 62401, with the Rev. John Hollis officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham, with military rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth St., Effingham, IL. There will also be a visitation on Monday one hour prior to funeral service at Effingham Bible Church. 

Donations may be made in loving memory of Pastor Chris Sr. to Effingham Bible Church, 710 W. Jefferson St. Effingham, IL 62401.

Online condolences may be shared by clicking here

 Chris was born on January 21, 1930, in Madison, IL, the son of Christopher Andrew and Leona Mae (Haiste) Shimboff. He married Mary Burton on December 5, 1955, in Granite City, IL. Chris was an Army Air Corps Veteran serving for five years. He considered it a honor and a privilege to serve his country. After serving in the military, he kept himself very busy as a heavy equipment operator for the State of Illinois and the State of California retiring in 1993 from the State of California. He also had a CDL and was a long distance truck driver for many years working for various trucking companies until he was well into his seventies. He also attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois and pastored several churches throughout his career. He loved spreading the good news of God’s love for us. This was a mission that he considered to be a great honor, bringing lost souls to Jesus Christ. Chris’ first love was God and then his family. He spent his time devoting himself to those causes.

Chris is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Shimboff of Effingham; daughter, Terry Shimboff of Effingham; son, Christopher II (wife, Cindy) Shimboff of Effingham; daughter, Lisa (husband, David) Lugar of Effingham; daughter, Val (husband, Bryan) Marschke of Effingham; and daughter-in-law, Marilynn Shimboff of Effingham. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Jeffrey Pinkerton, Christopher Shimboff III, Anthony Shimboff, Tara (Shimboff) Luna, Graham Glaspy, Erica (Shimboff) Barker, Mandy (Shimboff) Flach, Hillary Lugar, Conrad Marschke, and Bradley Marschke. Also surviving are 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Theodore Shimboff and George Shimboff; sister, Wanda (Shimboff) Sulic; and son, Phillip Shimboff.