John Sheley Sr.
March 11, 1936 - April 15, 2022
Obituary
John Tillman Sheley (86), a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on April 15, 2022. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary Clara Gillig Sheley; parents, Mary Frances Monfreda Sheley and George Tillman Sheley; and sister, Clara Sheley Repse. John is survived by his brother, Thomas Patrick Sheley; his son, John Tillman Sheley Jr and daughter-in-law, Meena; daughter, Susan Marie Sheley Romie and son-in-law, Dave; and grandchildren Mariea Sheley Romie, Madelyn Rosemary Romie, Quinn Daniel Romie, and Kai Tillman Sheley. John was born on March 11, 1936 in Indianapolis, where he grew up in the Haughville neighborhood. He graduated from Washington High School in 1953. John had a kind heart and a great sense of humor. He worked in telecommunications throughout his life. He joined Western Union as a technician and, in 30 years of employment, worked his way up to operations manager. John then went to work for IUPUI, in what he planned to be a retirement job doing technical repair. IUPUI had other plans for him. John became a lead network design engineer and cable-wiring manager, working on fiber-optic cable planning for the university. A talented musician, John played bass in dance bands for more than 60 years. Big band standards were among his favorites. John also loved celebrating his maternal family's Slovenian heritage at annual festivals, playing in the polka band. John had many hobbies. He had created his dream workshop where he spent hours on woodworking projects. His motto was, “There's a job for every tool, and a tool for every job.” He was prepared for just about any job that would come along, and could fix anything. John also was an avid movie fan. He could be found most afternoons watching all types of movies in his home theater. His favorites were musicals and WWII movies. John loved to travel the world too, and especially enjoyed cruises with his wife and brother. John was a member of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Danville. He served proudly in the Knights of Columbus for many years, receiving the honors of the Fourth Degree in 1997. John loved his family deeply. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren. It brought him such joy to attend their concerts, games, and events. He also loved family gatherings, dinners out, watching movies and football games together, and drinking a good beer. John's love story with his beloved, Rosemary, began when they met while both working at Western Union. They were married on April 15, 1961 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Indianapolis. They lived in Indianapolis for more than 30 years, and then moved to Danville. They were the happiest when together, and lived out their vows to love, honor and cherish each other for 54 years. John missed Rosemary every day after she passed in 2015. On John's passing, their story has a joyous new beginning, as John returned to Rosemary on the very date of their 61st wedding anniversary.
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Memories
TS
Thomas Patrick Sheley
Other •
Last night Yvonne found the CD disk John gave us of his Ban Playing, and we danced to it as the Beat of his base strings was like a heart beat to me. Gads I loved my Brother
Tom & Yvonne Sheley
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Peter Scanlan
Other •
John was my cousin, six years older, the son of Mary Sheley Monfreda. She was the oldest of Maria and Johan Monfreda's six daughters. Maria and Johan had emigrated to the United States from Slovenia in the early 1900's. My mother, Hedwig, was the youngest. I remember many wonderful Monfreda and other Slovenian gatherings where John and his band played mostly polkas. My mom taught me to dance the polka at one of those parties. As a teenager John babysat me and my three siblings a number of times. Later John's brother, Tommy, organized the Scuba Sharks, a scuba diving club. I was a member with John, Tommy, Dan Mervar, and Vic Repse, who was married to John's older sister, Clara. I especially remember John's sense of humor and the joy that emanated from him when he was playing his big upright Bass. May you rest with the ancestors, John. Peter Scanlan
DM
Daniel Mervar
Other •
John was my cousin on the Monfreda side of our family. I have many great memories of John when I was growing up. Just a few include Johnny helping Tommy, his brother and I, get to locations where we could launch our home made rockets...and also take us scuba diving! John loved music, especially big band music. He was a great bass player with a very large upright bass fiddle that was about 5 feet tall as I recall, since John played it standing up! I remember him showing me and listening to one of his first stereo sytems with two speakers which amazed me back then....and even got me interested in eventually getting my first stereo system. And I recall he had one of the classic Studebaker cars with the pointed front! We know he is now with his beloved Rosemary.... probaly smiling by adding to the heavenly music with his bass fiddle playing some polka songs! John will be missed by all of us....Danny Mervar
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Walt Linne
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John was a colleague at IUPUI and a fellow Kight of Columbus. His accomplishments were many, he was a good man. Say hello to Rosenary for me John.
DJ
Dave and Caree Jent
Other •
John and Rosemary were a wonderful couple. We knew them for years, as John worked with my husband for many years at IUPUI. John and Rosemary always opened their home to us for visits and we treasure our many memories of them. We know John is happy to be reunited with Rosemary now. Sending our love, prayers and comfort to his family at this time.