Frank William Shaw, II

Frank William Shaw, II, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida on October 24, 2023 at the age of 64.

Frank was born in Independence, Iowa on August 5, 1959 to the late Barbara Ann Hackney and Ross Charles Shaw as the eldest son of three. During his early years, he got to explore and experience the culture of Europe while his parents were stationed in France, Spain, and England. After moving back to the United States, Frank attended and graduated from Independence High School in 1977 and went on to study Geology at Iowa State University, where he met the love of his life, Katherine Andersen Shaw, and graduated in 1981.

Upon college graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1983 where he went on to proudly serve as an Aircrew Life Support Journeyman and Communication-Computer Systems Programmer Craftsman. After almost twenty-four years, he retired honorably as a Master Sergeant in August 2007. He continued to serve the United States Air Force in a civilian capacity for almost sixteen years with ERC/Oasis.

In life, Frank had a zest and joy for living in the moment with family and friends living each day to the fullest.

Outside of family and friends, he firmly believed in Jesus Christ, as his eternal savior and grew fond of Mathew 5:4 “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

If the weather was nice out, dad could be found in his garden planting something new or harvesting the next batch of peppers.

If he wasn’t outside in the garden, the next spot you could find him was in the kitchen with a record on, concocting his next recipe, dish, or “Shaw Market” special; or he was out firing up the grill or smoker. He enjoyed bringing the family together through delicious culinary adventures.

And if he wasn’t out in the garden or developing his next spice rub, he would be enjoying one of his favorite shows: Diners, Drive-In, and Dives; Full Custom Garage; Duck Dynasty; NCIS; and many more.

Outside of the house, Frank had a wanderlust for the great outdoors or exploring a new city. He loved taking in the local fare with the one true love of his life, Kathy, his wife of forty-four wonderful and marvelous years. With his love for history, he was always looking for a great museum or fort to explore, or finding a new distillery to sample the local brews and exquisite spirits.

Outside of enjoying the local fares of various cities, he was always looking for a new trail to explore. He loved looking at God’s creations in all of their glory. He had a true wanderlust spirit at heart.

He also had a love for sports. This love ranged from coaching his kids, to supporting their journey and passion for sports on the sidelines. He was always found at practices and games no matter the distance. On a Sunday in the fall you would find him rooting for his team, the Miami Dolphins, or his love’s team, the Green Packers. He was also a diehard fan of the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Celtics.

And if you ever wanted to talk politics, he was always ready to discuss the topics of the day.

Frank is survived by the love of his life, Katherine Shaw, of forty-four years; daughter, Jessica Pytlik; son, Joshua (Tiffany) Shaw; son, Nathan (Tanya) Shaw; daughter, Sam (don’t call me Samantha) Shaw; three grandchildren, Cyrus Pytlik, Elijah-Jacob Adams, and Charlotte Shaw; and his brother, Patrick (Misty) Shaw. He was predeceased by his parents, Barbara Ann and Ross Charles Shaw; and sister, Angela Beal.

In lieu of flowers or gifts please donate to the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast by going to
https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=72438028-461c-4436-bd96-b0443336f7ad.

If you would like to hear the whole story, the family invites you to attend Frank’s Memorial Service on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, Florida. A reception will follow the service in the Church’s Fellowship Hall.