Terrie Eileen (Mikesell) Shannon

Terrie Mikesell Shannon, 80, of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2023 at home, surrounded by family.

Terrie grew up on a farm in New Guilford, Ohio where she learned the value of hard work at an early age. Her love of learning began early in life, when as a youngster she eagerly awaited arrival of the bookmobile every month. She remained an avid reader for the rest of her life and had just started William Kent Krueger’s new book at the time of her passing.

She attended Union School, then went on to get a degree in home economics at the Ohio State University. After teaching in Wooster, OH for several years, she attended Cornell University, where she earned a PhD in Education, and met her future husband, Lyle Shannon. She was subsequently hired as an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she worked for 41 years. During those years she taught many classes, served as a Department Head, and an Associate Dean of the college of Education. Her first love, though, was always working with students and supporting their efforts inside and outside the classroom.

Terrie was a huge supporter of UMD women's athletics, and loved to watch her students compete in hockey, volleyball, and basketball. She developed lasting friendships with many of them.

Terrie was a strong proponent of equality, and a powerful advocate for women, minorities, indigenous peoples, and refugees. She worked right up until her death to help a group of Afghan refugees resettle in Duluth.

She miraculously survived an initial battle with stage IV lung cancer, after she was initially given 6 months to live. She ultimately got 7-1/2 additional years of life, during which her greatest joy was spending time with her new (and only!) grandson.  She also spent those years helping others, first, sewing hundreds of cloth bags for people to use instead of plastic at the grocery store, then, sewing thousands of masks which she distributed to hospitals, friends, and school children during the COVID epidemic, and finally working to resettle Afghan refugees.

Terrie was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Mary; and sister, Rosa Lea Stevens (Joe Sperry).

Terrie is survived by her husband, Lyle; son, Ben (Dana); grandson, Magnus; brothers, Wirt Mikesell and Leslie (Jill) Mikesell; nieces, Lee (Gayle) Williamson, Sarah (Patrick) Mintus and Lisa (Robert) Stevens Rowan; and nephews, Craig (Sharon) Stevens, Paul (Sarah) Mikesell and Chad (Sarah) Mikesell.

In lieu of flowers, people are encouraged to make a donation to the 2nd Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank or the Duluth Public Library Every Child Ready Program.

Visitation to be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, November 3rd at Peace Church, 1111 N 11th Ave E, with celebration of life to follow at 3:00 PM.

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