Burl Albert Shuler Obituary (1948 - 2009)

Burl Albert Shuler, Owaneco died Sunday, June 28, 2009 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was born March 22, 1948 Taylorville, IL, the son of George Cephas Ina Gertrude (McNeeley) Shuler. Burl attended Owaneco Grade School; Taylorville Jr. High Senior High; 2 years at EIU in pre-engineering; U of I, receiving a B.S. in Ag Engineering. Burl graduated from the University of Illinois in 1971 and in February went work for the State of Illinois Division of Waterways as a Hydraulic Design Engineer. In August of 1972 he moved to Hinsdale, IL to work for International Harvester as a Design Engineer. After 1 year he returned to Taylorville to join with Specialized Products Inc. as a Product Manager. On April 10, 1978 he joined GSI as a Chief Engineer, to begin a 31 year career. In January 1997, he became a Sales Manager and in September of that same year, Burl became the Vice President of GSI Sales. In February 2001 he was named the Senior Vice President. Burl was then named the General Manager in October 2003, becoming the Sales Vice President in April 2007. Most recently, in June 2009, he became the Technical Sales Vice President. Burl had been a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers since 1971, and he had participated in both national and regional section activities. He also had served for 4 years on the University of Illinois Agricultural and Biological Engineering External Advisory Board, as well as the College of Agricultural Advisory Board in 1983-85, 1986-88, 1995-97, 1998-2000. In 2000, Burl served on the College of Agriculture External Advisory Board. Burl was a member of the GEAPS (Grain Elevator and Processing Society), and had been a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois since 1976. His hobbies were flying, motorcycling, photography, music (church choir), grandchildren and family. Burl was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pana, where he was a past deacon. Burl was also a former member of Taylorville Evangelical Free Church, Taylorville Optimist Club, the NRA. He married Jean Beccue in Villa Grove Methodist Church on March 2, 1968. She survives in Owaneco, along with his children: Angela K (husband Steve) Fry of Pana; Nicole Danielle (husband Alan) Bailey of Owaneco; Benjamin Marcus Shuler (wife Stacia) of Pana; 10 grandchildren; Ivan, Ivy, Natalie, Nicholas Fry; Lauren, Nathan, Noah, Elayna Bailey; Cera Caleb Shuler; his mother: Ina Shuler, Owaneco; sisters: Jane Everett, Owaneco Judy Voss, Beecher City. He was preceded in death by his father, George Shuler. Funeral Information Funeral services will be held Thursday July 2, 2009 in First Baptist Church, Pana at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Greg White officiating. Burial will be in Owaneco Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday July 1, 2009 from 5 to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home, Pana.