Obituary: Charlie Sheahan

Charles John (Charlie) Sheahan passed away peacefully on May 5, 2015, surrounded by loving family. Charlie, as he liked to be called, was 89 years old. He was born April 12, 1926, to John Leo and Katherine Elizabeth (Menges) Sheahan in Wichita, Kansas. Charlie married LaFaye Ann Jensen on Oct. 26, 1948, in Loveland. Charlie and his wife were lifetime members of the Catholic Church.

Charlie grew up in Kingman County, Kansas, farming with his dad. He often talked about plowing and cultivating with horses and mules. He taught us to apply many of those training techniques to the horse training opportunities we had while growing up. He would often say, “You can break a horse, you can’t break a mule. They have to know they are hurting themselves.”

He was the Deputy Marshall of the Fort Collins Centennial Parade in 1964. He also provided a team that pulled the Colorado covered wagon part of the way to Philadelphia in the U.S. Centennial Celebration in 1976.

Charlie was actively involved with his family in 4-H and other community activities. He was president of the Wellington Senior Resource Center for several years. He loved playing his guitar and played in various Senior Center activities around the community with his band, The Four Star Band. Charlie and Faye raised their six children in LaPorte and then in Waverly. Charlie retired after many years of service from the Agriculture Department at Colorado State University. After he retired, he and Faye operated Sheahan’s Carriage Service driving for weddings, promotions and private parties for about 10 years. They were the first to offer carriage service in Old Town Fort Collins.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Faye; two daughters, Linda (Gary) Ellis of Fort Collins and Therese (Roger) Burns of Wellington; four sons, Bill (Peggy) Sheahan of Rocky Ford, Mike (Cindy) Sheahan of Castle Rock, Tom (Cheryl) Sheahan of Fort Collins and Danny Sheahan of Redmond, Ore. He is also survived by seven siblings, 18 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Charlie was preceded in death by four siblings, one granddaughter and one great grandson.

A rosary and funeral were held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 300 W. Mountain Ave. in Fort Collins on May 11.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Pathways Hospice at 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

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