February 3, 1929 - December 30, 2017

Cyrus Foss Atkinson was born to Cyrus Foss and Marjorie (Walker) Atkinson Feb 3, 1929 in Dewey Township, Burnett County WI, the fourth in line of twelve children. He attended Bashaw and McCarty schools and Shell Lake High School. He was married to Janet Ruth Gibson Sept 1, 1945 in Pine City, MN. Together they raised four children.

After several short jobs he was employed by Shell Lake Boat Company where he worked until 1965, having been put in charge of design and engineering of the boats in 1953. In May 1965 he went to Wausaukee, WI where he set up a plant to build fiberglass products for Cruiser Inc of Oconto, WI and was named vice president and general manager in charge of production. In October 1968 he returned to Shell Lake and went to work for Lund Boats who had purchased the Shell Lake Boat Company. He worked at Lund Boats as Director of Engineering and production until 1977 when he moved to Oconto, WI and worked for Cruiser, Inc where he was in charge of most of the design work and all of the pattern and molds for the fiberglass boats. His shop also produced tooling and product for many other fiberglass parts for GE, F.W.D trucks and other plants.

He retired in Jan 1991 and returned to Shell Lake, WI and set up a gunsmithing shop where he cleaned and repaired guns of all types and built custom made rifles.
Cyrus was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was also an avid target shooter and shot on competitive pistol and trap teams.

He is survived by: 2 sons, Curtis (Kyle) Atkinson of University Place, WA, Clinton (Barbara) Atkinson of Shell lake, 1 daughter, Sheila Shaffer of Astoria, OR, 3 grandsons, Cyrus, Zachary and Curtis, 1 granddaughter, Amanda, 3 great grandchildren, 6 brothers, Russell, Curt, Jimmy, Lyle, Jerry and Johnny Atkinson of Shell Lake. He was preceded in death by 1 son Cyrus III, 1 sister and 4 brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, Jan 8 at the Shell Lake United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Miller officiating. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10-11 AM. Pallbearers are Curtis Atkinson, Curtis Atkinson II, Clinton Atkinson, Jerry Gronning, John Davis and Curt Atkinson. 

Skinner Funeral Home of Shell Lake is serving the family.

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:44 pm CST