Donald Wayne Shaner, 77, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, May 23, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 11, 1936, in Fruitland, son of Lawrence W. and Nellie Noland Shaner. He and Marilou Clark were married April 12, 1974, in West Frankfort, Ill.

Donald was a 1952 graduate of Jackson High School. He received a bachelor of science degrees in biology/agriculture and education from Southeast Missouri State University. He later received a master of science degree in guidance counseling from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Donald was a biology teacher at Fox High School in Arnold, Mo. He worked at the University of Missouri Extension in Park Hills, Mo., as a 4-H agent, and as a guidance counselor at Meridian School District in Mounds, Ill. After early retirement, he continued to serve as a guidance counselor at Oak Ridge High School, Woodland School District, East Prairie School District and Scott County Central High School. He was a member of La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau and Cape Evening Optimist Club and was co-founder of Missouri Junior Academy of Science.

In addition to his loving wife, survivors include six children, Michael (the Rev. Sandi) Shaner of Mechanicsville, Va., Mark (Vickie) Shaner of Anderson, Ind., Donna Shaner-Sternickle of Woodlawn, Ill., Michelle Shaner of Chicago and Thomas P. Shaner and John L. Shaner of Cape Girardeau; nine grandchildren, Kenneth Shaner, Andrew (Jessica) Shaner and Neal Shaner, all of Mechanicsville, Va., Austin and Timothy Shaner of Anderson, Ind., Gina (fiance Dan Farcus) Shaner of Wilmore, Ky., Zachariah (Ranae) Shaner of Clearwater, Fla., Columbia Sternickle of Cincinnati and Haleigh Sternickle of Kansas City, Mo.; and a sister, Arabella "Peggy" Matthews of Dexter, Mo.

He was preceded in death by two siblings, Jerry Gene Shaner and Ella Belle Shaner.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday at La Croix Church.

The funeral will be at noon Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Ron Watts officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fruitland.

McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to La Croix Church Youth and Children's Ministry or Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.