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June 23, 2008
John F. Sheehan Jr. passed away on Monday, June 23, after a four-week illness.
He is survived by Jackie, his wife of 42 years; Heather and Ryan, his daughter and grandson; and John III, Colleen, John IV (Jack) and Elliot, his son, his daughter-in-law and his grandsons.
He adored his wife, loved his kids, and treasured every second spent with his grandsons. A line from a recent poem written by his grandson Jack summed it up, “…his family was his heart.”
A memorial service will be held at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 420 Main St., Dallas, Pa., on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a reception at the Dallas American Legion, 271 Memorial Highway, Dallas, Pa., immediately after the memorial service.
He fell ill on assignment in Maine for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). While helping people in need was his job with FEMA, it really summed up his life. John was ready and willing to help anyone at any time. His commitment to family came first, making sure he took care of them before all else. However, he always found time to help a neighbor in need, a friend from church, or one of his many, many friends from the community. In his job with FEMA, he went on site to assist the victims of natural disasters in 13 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
John was most proud of his FEMA service at the Pentagon following the September 11 attacks because he felt it was his patriotic duty to help a nation in need. To those who knew him, this would come as no surprise as John was a true patriot of the United States of America. He served in the U.S. Army, and was followed by his son’s service in the U.S. Marine Corps, and his grandson Ryan’s recent enlistment in Pennsylvania National Guard.
He graduated high school and college from Wyoming Seminary and Wilkes College. He was a past master of the George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 of the F. & A.M., past president of the American Legion Post 672 in Dallas, and held several officer positions in the Riverview Rod and Gun Club. He was a dedicated member of the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Dallas, recently serving as layperson for weekday morning prayer and many other positions during his lifelong service to the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Prince of Peach Episcopal Church, (specify “General Fund”), 420 Main St., Dallas, PA 18612; the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main St., Fox Hill Rd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, 570-970-7722 ; Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140, 800-281-4050; and/or the Ronald McDonald House, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401, 207-942-9003.