Thomas Davis Kershaw, 83 of Sugar City, died Friday, April 8, 2011 at Madison Memorial Hospital. He was born November 14,1927 in Preston, Idaho to Samuel Arthur Kershaw and Grace Luverne Beckstead Kershaw. He married Julia Eileen Squires on August 11, 1948 in the Idaho Falls LDS temple.
He attended school in Preston, graduated from Preston High School and served in the wartime US Army as a medic from 1944 to 1947. He attended Ricks College, Utah State University and Brigham Young University. He was a teacher and principal in Ammon, Idaho and served as Superintendent of the Sugar-Salem School District from 1970 to 1985. The Board of Trustees chose to name the Thomas D. Kershaw Intermediate School in Sugar City after him to honor his contributions to the district.
Mr. Kershaw was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a bishop, stake presidency member, high councilman and as first counselor in the Idaho Falls Temple presidency. He was at the time of his death serving as a sealer in the Rexburg Temple. Tom and his wife Eileen served missions in the Chicago and Nauvoo temples. He was the mayor of Ammon, Idaho. He was appointed by Governor Andrus to a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives. He also served the state education system in many ways, including as a member and chairman of the State Textbook and Improvement of Instruction Committee. Tom was a member of the Rotary Club. He enjoyed fishing, spending time with his family and working and relaxing at his cabin in Island Park.
Survivors include, his wife Eileen Kershaw of Sugar City and their children; Pam (David) Ogden of Sugar City, Tom (Karen) Kershaw of Twin Falls, Idaho, Neal (Janis) Kershaw of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Tim (Kimberly) Kershaw of Sugar City and thirteen grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and a brother.
Tom Kershaw touched many lives for good as an educator, temple worker, father and grandfather. He was respected by all who knew him. He was loved, and will be greatly missed, by his family and many friends.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Sugar City LDS Stake Center. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and Thursday at the stake center from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Sugar City Cemetery with military rites by the Madison County Veterans.