Services Set For Illinois Family Of 6 Killed In Fire

LOST NATION, IL — Visitation and funeral services are slated for next week for four children and their parents killed in a fire in rural Ogle County. Parents Timothy Shaw, 39, and Melissa Shaw, 37, perished in the Nov. 21 blaze at their home in Lost National, not far from Dixon. Timothy Shaw's four children — Ethan, 17, LeAnne, 15, Hailey, 12, and Dylan, 11 — also died in the fire. All six family members died of smoke inhalation, according to Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVinkle and the Ogle County coroner.

VanVinkle said firefighters were dispatched to the family's Miami Drive home after 17-year-old Ethan called 911 to report a fire in the basement. The cause of the fatal fire has not been determined but officials said it does not appear to be suspicious.

Visitation for the family is from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Dixon Elks Lodge, 1279 Franklin Grove Road. The Elks Lodge will also host the funeral at 11 a.m. Dec. 6, a relative told SaukValley.com. Burial, including military honors for Timothy Shaw, will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon.

A memorial to help offset funeral costs will be established through Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.

“I’m happy that they’re all together," Tim’s sister, Rebecca O’Brien, told SaukValley.com. "I’m happy that they’reall together in heaven.”

Tim and Melissa Shaw married in July 2014. Melissa Shaw is survived by two children from her first marriage, Makenzie and Alex Irwin, 16 and 13, who live with their father in North Carolina.

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