Bryon Shakespeare Obituary
Bryon "Bear" Lee Shakespeare, age 68, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on November 13, 1957, in Grinnell, Iowa, Bryon was the son of the late Carl Leroy Shakespeare and Jacqueline Joy (Spence) Shakespeare.
In his youth, Bryon was full of life and energy—whether he was playing football, stepping onto the softball field, or picking away at his guitar. He carried that strong work ethic into his career, eventually retiring after many dedicated years with AT&T. Outside of work, Bryon was a true handyman and tinkerer who loved getting his hands dirty working on cars, as well as restoring and playing arcade machines. He was also a lifelong enthusiast of Bigfoot lore and loved nothing more than diving into video games alongside his grandkids.
Above all else, Bryon's true passion was his family. He married the love of his life, soulmate and best friend, Barbara Jean (Thomas) Shakespeare—affectionately known as "BJ"—and together they built a beautiful life and a loving family over 44 devoted years of marriage.
Bryon was the ultimate family man—a proud, gentle, and utterly selfless father and grandfather. He was the kind of dad and granddad who wore his heart on his sleeve: he was more than happy to sit patiently while the girls styled his hair into a head full of ponytails or painted his nails, proudly wearing their creations for anyone and everyone to see. His family meant the absolute world to him, and he loved them with every ounce of his heart. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Jacqueline Shakespeare. Bryon's legacy of love, humor, and devotion will be carried on by his beloved wife, Barbara "BJ" Shakespeare; his three children: oldest daughter Amanda Lemcke and her husband Mark, son Brandon Shakespeare, and youngest daughter Shawna Shakespeare; his sister, Bobbi Govro and her husband Mark; and his cherished grandchildren: Johnathan, Dylan, Madison, and Cheyenne. He also leaves behind a large, loving extended family of nieces, nephews, lifelong friends, and countless loved ones whose lives were touched by his warmth and character. There will be a celebration of life at a later date. DowntownSt. Louis Cremation 2135 Chouteau Ave St. Louis, MO 63103 (314) 241-8844 West CountySt. Louis Cremation 14374 Manchester Rd Ballwin, MO 63011 (636) 227-4488 St. Charles CountySt. Louis Cremation 320 Jungermann Rd St Peters, MO 63376 (636) 484-8844 FlorissantSt. Louis Cremation 5 Saint Anthony Ln Florissant, MO 63031 (314) 924-4488 ArnoldSt. Louis Cremation 1544 Jeffco Blvd Arnold, MO 63010 (636) 227-4491.
