Jeremy Shock laid to rest

As police saluted amidst a series of tolling bells Tuesday, Marines carried the flag-draped casket of Lance Cpl. Jeremy Shock out of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Shock, 22, of Green Springs, was killed when his vehicle collided with an improvised explosive device in Iraq Nov. 19. He was with the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines.

His funeral Tuesday morning was held at St. Mary’s on South Sandusky Street, on the same block as his alma mater, Tiffin University, where he had majored in criminal justice.

Before college, Shock attended Clyde High School and played football under Principal Joe Webb, who was present at the funeral Tuesday.

“Obviously, Jeremy was well-loved by a lot of people — I think the turnout kind of reflected that,” Webb said of the church that continued to empty for 20 minutes after the Mass ended. “It was a good ceremony and a good service, but at the same time it’s a tough loss for everybody.”

Following the 11 a.m. service, incense emanated from the sunlight-bathed church as a U.S. Marine escorted the folded flag and stood at attention. Six Marine pallbearers then guided the casket to the waiting vehicle as family members paid reverence and boarded a limousine for the procession. Shock is survived by his parents, Duane and Sherry, siblings Zachary and Sara and his wife, Clara Ramirez, whom he married before leaving for Iraq.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family,” Webb said. “This was as close a family as I’ve ever seen and I know this loss is very difficult for them.”

Eric Shook, funeral director at Engle-Shook Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, said the procession itself consisted of more than 120 cars that made their way from the filled-to-capacity church to Green Springs Cemetery.

Shook said Shock was the first Iraqi veteran his organization has handled, and doing so was an honor. Still, he said, the situation was difficult.

“It’s not supposed to end this way for him,” he said. “ ... These military guys are supposed to come home by themselves.”

Overall, Shook said everything went smoothly Tuesday, a statement with which Tiffin Police Capt. Frank Iannantuono concurred. Iannantuono said the department had five officers present, including one undercover. A Green Springs police cruiser led the procession, Iannantuono said, followed by Tiffin departmental assistance.

“We were grateful to be allowed to participate in the funeral arrangements,” Iannantuono said. “We really feel badly for the family and wanted to do something to make sure that this event in their lives at least went smoothly and it wasn’t interrupted by any unforeseen circumstances.”

Shock was a member of the Marine Corps reserves 1st Battalion of the 24th Regiment. Shock’s father previously told The Advertiser-Tribune Jeremy decided to join the corps after completing an internship with the International Criminal Police Organization in the summer of 2005, during which he realized government offices frequently require a military background in the application process.

Marine officials said Shock arrived in Iraq at the end of September. He worked as a machine-gunner and in the armory, and would go on to receive a National Defense Service medal and a certificate of commendation. A U.S. Department of Defense release stated Shock died while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.

In recent days, Webb said, he has learned more about Shock’s successful career at Tiffin University, which he said has made him even more proud of the young marine. Tuesday’s service shed light upon who Shock was in life, he said.

“Jeremy was a great kid and I think that came out in the service today — how driven he was, how focused he was,” Webb said. “There’s just no better young man that’s come through Clyde High School than Jeremy Shock.”

From the Advertiser Tribune

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