John Sheley Sr.

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

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

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

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.

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.