Jeff Shuck, age 55, of Athens, passed away on Friday, July 31, 2020.

He was born November 15, 1964 in Streator, Illinois.

Jeff married Joanne "Jo" Duncan on April 25, 1992, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

He is survived by his wife, Jo; two sons, Evan and Everett; mother, Doris Bernard; father, Larry Bernard; sister, Julie Redding; nephew, Derek; nieces, Dori and Erin; and great-nephews, Noah, Connor and Gavin.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Everett and Jewel Flesburg.

Jeff previously worked for the Illinois Attorney General, the State Board of Education, and Central Management Systems. He most recently was appointed to the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Jeff graduated as the Salutatorian of Illini Bluffs High School in 1983, then graduated from University of Illinois in Champaign in 1988, and continued his education, graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree, as Valedictorian, from Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Law in 1997.

Jeff loved his family dearly and was especially proud of his boys. He enjoyed watching his sons play football and grow into strong young men! Jeff was also an avid Illini fan.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of personal freedoms and liberties and a proud American.

He was on the intercollegiate wheelchair basketball team at University of Illinois, winning two National Championship rings in 1986 and 1987. Jeff brought this sport to SIU Carbondale, where he also competed.

Although Jeff lived the last 38 years as a paraplegic, he never considered himself disabled.