Jack S. Shenal

Jack S. Shenal, 91, of Mannington, passed away peacefully at Pleasant Acres Christian Haven in Fairmont on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Jack was born on June 1, 1934, in Rachel, the son of the late Mike and Mary Strincosky Shenal. He attended Downs Elementary School and graduated in 1952 from Farmington High School. After beginning his mining career at Joanne Mine in Rachel, he took a leave of absence and served his country by joining the United States Army and serving from 1956 to 1958. He remained serving in the Reserves until 1963. While in the Reserves he returned to his mining career and worked until Joanne Mine closed in 1985. He then found employment with Peabody at Harris #2 Mine in Boone County. He worked there until his retirement in 1990. During his time working in the mines, he also was a member of the Mine Rescue Team and was a lifelong member of the UMWA.

Jack was an avid sportsman. From his younger days he could be found in Rachel Camp playing some form of ball with his brothers, cousins and other “coal camp” kids. In high school he played football and baseball and played baseball with the American Legion Mannington Team. Jack’s love of fishing and hunting was instilled in him by his two uncles who took him, his brothers and his cousins to Grant, Hampshire and Pendleton Counties. Jack could be found roaming the hills of West Virginia hunting deer, turkey or squirrels. And when this wasn’t in season, he would most likely be fishing a high mountain native brookie stream, trout fishing on the North Fork or South Branch Rivers in the Eastern Panhandle where he and his wife, Betty, rented a camp for several years after his retirement where they made many friends. One of his favorite things was going turtle hunting and bringing back his catch for Betty to prepare for their many turtle fry’s. Jack loved to gather around the campfire to laugh and tell stories of his many adventures. He also loved gardening and carpentry work and was able to fix anything. He was proud of his Polish heritage and tried to learn Polish from his maternal grandmother. He loved dancing the Polka and would be the first one on the dance floor kicking up his heels at the Polish dances in the area.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty “Sawyer” Shenal who passed away in 2016; two stepsons, William “Butch” Porter and Bob Porter, two brothers, Robert Shenal, Sr. and Dick Shenal, many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his stepson, John Porter and wife Carol of Corbin Branch Road, step daughter-in-law, Sue Porter of Farmington and step daughter-in-law Debbie Porter of Arizona, his sister, Dolores Manzo of Monongah, sister-in-law Josephine Shenal of Ohio, niece Kathy and Tom Daniel of Katy, nephew Bob and Elizabeth Shenal of Mannington, a close cousin, Ron Blankenship of Fairmont whom he talked to every day, and cousin Linda Blankenship of Rachel who was his caregiver since his wife’s death.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Deskins of WVU Regional Medical Center in Fairmont and the wonderful nurses that cared for him while he was there. Also, the staff at Pleasants Acres and WV Caring for their care and compassion.

Family and friends may call at Masters Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Mannington, WV on Wednesday, July 2, from 4:00 to 8:00. Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home Thursday, July 3 at 11:00 a.m. with Jason Marshall and Jack Rhinehart officiating. Burial will follow at Viewpoint Cemetery in Rachel with full military rites.