Leo Thomas Sheehy

Leo Thomas Sheehy, the son of John Bernard and Helen (Lynch) Sheehy, was born November 22, 1944, in Jefferson, Iowa and died June 21, 2018, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 73 years, 6 months, and 29 days.

Leo grew up on the family farm southwest of Jamaica, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Catholic Church. Leo attended Yale-Jamaica-Bagley Schools where he was involved in basketball, track, band, and acting in school plays. While in school, he became a member of a musical group called the Corn Kings, which was sponsored by the Jamaica, Iowa American Legion. They would travel across the country playing in parades on the Fourth of July. The band still exists and plays on the Fourth of July in Yale, Iowa and Leo played the tuba until his health made it difficult for him to play. Leo graduated from High School in 1963.

Leo married Deanna Shiflet. Two children Kevin and Lisa were born to this union. Leo farmed, did general trucking, and hauled U.S. mail between Des Moines, Iowa to Atlanta, Georgia twice a week for several years.

He married Dianna Zaiger in 1994. Leo was the father, grandfather, and great grandfather not only to his own children but also to Dianna’s four children. Leo farmed, growing row crops and raising livestock for many years. He owned heavy equipment and did custom tiling and backhoe work. Leo also drove truck for Argee Transport out of Des Moines, Iowa hauling heavy equipment and bridge beams from 1993 until he retired from trucking in 2009.

Leo was a hard worker all his life. He had a great sense of humor and loved telling stories. He enjoyed going on family vacations to the Ozarks where he loved to water ski. Leo enjoyed helping Dianna host dinner parties for friends. But most of all he enjoyed meals with his family and eating Dianna’s homemade pies.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Jerald (Jerry) Sheehy, John Sheehy, and Vincent Sheehy; and his sister Bernadette (Bernie) and husband Ron Delp.

Survivors include his wife Dianna Sheehy of Audubon, Iowa; his children Lisa Sheehy and friend Mike of Adel. Iowa and Kevin and wife Shae Sheehy and their daughter Taylor all of Alden, Kansas, Kimberly and husband Bob White of Audubon, Iowa and their daughter Erika Govig and friend Austin and her children Jace and Jaxson Govig all of Casey, Iowa, Benjamin White and fiancée Morgan Hoffman and Kenneth Thomas White all of Audubon, Iowa, Jason and wife Ann Zaiger of Exira, Iowa and their children Elijah Zaiger, Joseph Zaiger, Elizabeth Zaiger, and Abigail Zaiger, Bart and wife April Zaiger of Loretto, Minnesota and their children Victoria and husband Chace Neuburger and daughter Aria of Savage, Minnesota and Baxter Zaiger and fiancée Rachel Stych of Loretto, Minnesota, Luke and wife Jennifer Zaiger and their children Emma Zaiger and Brett Thomas Zaiger all of Harlan, Iowa; his sisters: Mary and husband Dennis Furrow of Woodword, Iowa, Margaret and husband Jon Wilson and Martha and husband Ben Williamson all of Perry, Iowa; his brothers: Lowell Sheehy and Paul and wife Connie Sheehy all of Dawson, Iowa, Eugene Sheehy of Grand Junction, Iowa, and Bob and wife Tracey Sheehy of Perry, Iowa; his sisters-in-law Kathy and husband Bill Wallander of Audubon, Iowa and Joni and husband Clint Hansen of Urbandale, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by Minister Jason Zaiger and Pastor Doug Opp on Tuesday morning June 26, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Delbert Elmquist, Dr. Terry Sprague, John Benson, Ronnie Swanson, Virg Schmidt, Darrell Whitehead, Brian Svobota, Steve Hansen, and Craig Owen. The casket bearers will be Benjamin White, Kenneth Thomas White, Baxter Zaiger, Bill Wallander, Lowell Sheehy, Bob Sheehy, Gary Feser, and Tom Kilcullen. The family will meet with friends Tuesday morning, June 26, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa.