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Obituaries » Dennis J. Sheehan

Dennis J. Sheehan

January 11, 1943 - February 1, 2023

Service Date: February 8, 2023

Funeral Home Memorial Services of Iowa

Church Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church

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Dennis “Denny” Sheehan, of Ankeny, passed away on February 1, 2023.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church (510 E. 1st St., Ankeny, IA). Visitation will take place an hour prior to Mass, starting at 9:30 a.m. Mass will be livestreamed at www.OLIH.org Click on mass-livestream, funerals.

Denny was born in Cherryvale, Kansas, on January 11, 1943, to Delmer and Muriel Sheehan. He grew up in the Shakopee, Minnesota, area as one of 14 children. Denny worked hard his entire life, starting by working the farm with his dad. In August of 1963 he married the love of his life, Nancy Smisek, enjoying nearly 60 years together.

Denny worked various jobs before starting his career of choice in the petroleum business for 30-plus years. In 1972, he moved the family to Iowa, opening a new branch of Northwest Service and continuing to work in the petroleum business installing and servicing gas stations across the state. He opened his own business, Midwest Petroleum, for about ten years before retiring, but retirement didn’t last long, as he then drove a truck for Barr Nunn and Brown until his 70th birthday in 2013!

Denny and Nancy lived in Ankeny for 50 years, raising their children, Cindy and Scott. Denny was a family man, through and through. He loved life, fishing, music, a good (usually inappropriate) joke and would quite often be laughing! He loved to play his guitars or harmonicas and was often singing. He was a bit of a stubborn Irishman, but he never held a grudge. Denny was always a great fix-it-man, whether it was your car, a clogged sink, remodeling anything, or a broken toy. Denny had a heart of gold and was the absolute best husband, dad, brother, and papa that any family could pray for.

Denny is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Cindy Grimes; son, Scott Sheehan; grandchildren, Laryssa Smith (Thomas Toye), Rylea Smith (Zak Knox), Devin Sheehan (Dani), Mason Smith (Brianna Ellett), Rhonda Prock (Grant), Jacob Johnson, and Trisha Grimes; great-grandchildren, Baylea Hallman, Ayeden Knox, Addilynn Knox, Zakary Knox, Lyla Hart, and Vincent Hart; brothers and sisters, Jean Ann Rassmussen, Virginia Elke, Harvey Sheehan, Pat Sheehan, Jay Sheehan, Sean Sheehan, and Kelly Sheehan; dear friend and “adopted son”, Jimmy Benson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Delmer and Murial; in-laws, Frank and Elsie Smisek; sisters, Jackie Sheehan, Rosemary Elke, and Bonnie Amundson; brothers, Jim Sheehan, Dale Sheehan, and Roy Sheehan; daughter-in-law, Anna Ross; son-in-law, Bob Grimes; and dear friend, Steve Murphy.

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