Francis Joseph Dr. Sheeran

Francis Joseph Sheeran, age 79, died Sunday, November 17, 2019, in Kansas City. He was born to Francis and Elaine (Jewison) Sheeran April 13, 1940. He grew up on a farm near Janesville, Minnesota.
Francis graduated from Janesville High School in the class of 1958. He graduated from St. Marys University in Winona, Minnesota, after which he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he earned his masters and doctorate degrees from Creighton University, specializing in medieval English literature. While in Omaha, he married Janet Watson of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, in 1965. After receiving his doctorate he taught English courses at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for several years before moving to Kansas City in 1975. In Kansas City he taught English literature classes at Rockhurst University for the rest of his academic career, from 1975 until his retirement in 2002. While at Rockhurst he enjoyed being a longtime faculty sponsor of the TKE fraternity. Throughout his life he became an expert in collecting stamps, assembling a world-class collection. He liked working with special plants in his yard and observing birds at his feeders.
He is survived by his son Frank (Asami) Sheeran, grandson Liam of Tokyo, Japan; and daughter Jean of Kansas City. He is also survived by his brothers Ray (Sue) of Verona, WI; Tom (Pam) of Seaforth, MN; Jim (Julie) of Francis, UT; Tim (Jane) of Mantorville, MN; and Pat (Donna) of Francis, UT. He is also survived by his sister Kay (Vern) of Fort Myers, FL; and sister-in-law Jackie Sheeran of Rochester, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Janet, daughter Marian, and brother David. His brother Paul (Jackie) of Rochester, MN, passed away after Francis on the same day.
A memorial service will be 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 7, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville. Interment will follow in St. Ann Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday, December 6, at Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service ~ Arnoldt Chapel of Janesville. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
www.janesvillefuneral.com