John Curtis Shipman

John Curtis Shipman, age 81 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023.

Born in Rahway, NJ, April 7, 1942, he was the son of the late John L. and Marion F. (Seely) Shipman. He had formerly resided in Westfield, NJ, North Plainfield, NJ, Branchburg, NJ and finally Flemington, NJ for the past twenty plus years.

As a young man, he served in the United States Air Force from 1961-1965, until his honorable discharge. He then went on to have a career in the car business, working as a BMW manager for over twenty-five years.

John was known as a great chef, mixologist and grill master and he loved to cruise “anywhere and everywhere”, whether that be on a cruise ship or his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Additionally, he had a good sense of style and was a wristwatch enthusiast. In his spare time, he watched NASCAR, Formula 1 and rooted for the New York Giants. John could also be found with the ”boys” that gathered outside the Flemington Italian Bakery. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren – including a Lionel train table he built with his grandson, Ryan. His grandchildren remember him as always being funny and fun to be around.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, the late Elaine Shipman, who died in 1999.

Surviving are his wife of twenty years, Karen Shipman of Flemington, NJ; son, Keith Shipman also of Flemington, NJ, daughters, Jennifer Resnick of Chapel Hill, NC and Brittany Mikos of Hainesport, NJ; seven grandchildren: Ryan, Alice, LJ, Johnny, Lara, Ezra, and Kol; as well as his siblings, Sandra Heeney of Piscataway, NJ and Linda Soos of Diamond Springs, CA.

John was an incredible husband, dad, grandfather and all-around person. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A visitation with the family will take place on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Following the visitation, brief funeral services, officiated by Rev. Dr. Barbara Booth-Jarmon, will begin at 12:30 PM in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Flemington-Raritan First-Aid & Rescue Squad, PO Box 686, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Cremation services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.