Rosemary F. Sheehan

Rosemary Sheehan died on June 18, 2019 at her home in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. 

The Funeral Service will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. with her son, Reverend John Sheehan, her brother Reverend John McGuirk and Pastor Reverend Terry Roder concelebrating.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, LeMars, Iowa on Thursday, June 27^th at 10:00 a.m.   Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 25^th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present at 6:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.  Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Rosemary was born on June 28, 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa to Benedict V. McGuirk and Marguerite (Mannion) McGuirk.  She graduated from Heelan High School. She attended Clarke College in Dubuque and the University of Vienna as an undergraduate. She received an M.A. in English from the University of South Dakota.

On September 30, 1961 she married James Sheehan at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City. They lived in LeMars, Iowa from 1961 to 1968. She was a member of the LeMars Library Board, AAUW and other organizations.

For about 25 years the family lived in Pierson, Iowa where James Sheehan was President of the Farmers Savings Bank.  She was a Girl Scout leader and CCD teacher.  In 1977 she graduated from the University Of South Dakota School Of Law.  She practiced with the firm of Crary Huff in Sioux City and Pierson for about 35 years.  She was a licensed member of the Iowa and South Dakota bar. She was a past president of the Siouxland Estate Planning Council. She was twice Chairman of the Iowa Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Committee when the committee shepherded passage of several articles of the Uniform Commercial Code. She was a past President of the Sioux City Symphony Association and longtime board member and a member of the original board of directors of the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation. During her retirement, she volunteered as a Court Appointed Advocate in Juvenile Court, tutored for a GED student through WIT and was a docent at the Sioux City Art Center. She enjoyed travelling worldwide, walking with Jim, reading and researching family history.

Her family was most important to her. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, James Sheehan; her son Rev. John Sheehan of Monticello, N.Y.; daughter Julie Anne Sheehan and grandson Miles Mannion Thorsen, of East Quogue, N.Y.; and a son Robert (Sarah) Sheehan of N.Y., N.Y.  She is survived by her siblings Macrina (Bob) Sudbeck; Rev. John McGuirk; Sister Margaret McGuirk, O.P.; Joanna (Larry) Lindberg; and Paul (Mary) McGuirk; and by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Sioux City Symphony, Iowa Court Appointed Advocate Association, June E Nylen Cancer Center, Hospice for Siouxland or Bishop Heelan High School for scholarships would be appreciated.