Born January 20, 1938, in Kingman, Kansas, Dennis passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at his home on 10009 Hidden Meadow Drive, Austin, TX 78750 due to complications of COPD and a recent hip surgery. The family wishes to thank the many caring and skilled employees of Conejos Community Hospital, LaJara, CO, Hearthstone Rehabilitation Center in Austin, TX, also the staff of Kindred Hospice in Austin, TX.
Dennis attended St. Peters Catholic Church and School in Willlowdale,Kansas through Grade 8, and Graduated from St. Gregory’s Benedictine Abbey and High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1956. After being employed as a farmer, construction worker and apprentice at the Santa Fe Railroad in Wichita, KS, Dennis served in the US Navy, at Red Bank, NJ. Dennis then attended Wichita Technical Institute and Denver University.
Dennis was married to Marilyn Wagner Sheahan in Willowdale KS in 1960. Survivors include wife, Marilyn of 58 years, and daughters Teresa Sheahan Sligh, M.D. (Scott Sligh, M.D.) of Diana, TX, and Karen Sheahan (Mark Traylor) and Denise Bell (Eric Bell), of Austin, TX. Also surviving are grandchildren Jordan and Andrew Sligh, Melissa Traylor Byrne (Michael), Ashlyn Traylor, Michael Bell
(Jeane) and Kyle Bell (Kristyna). Other survivors include sisters, Patricia Hinds Roberts (Carl) of Houston and Judy Hageman (Daniel) of Kingman, KS, along with numerous favorite nieces and nephews.
Dennis was preceded in death by his Parents, William and Mable Sheahan, brothers Lawrence Sheahan (Helen) , Jimmy Sheahan (Lois), Gerald Sheahan (Phyllis) and sisters, Rosemary Kerschen (Roman) , Rita Ann Reida (Byron) and Elaine Wells (Charles).
After moving to Denver, CO in 1962, Dennis was employed by IBM Corp. from 1962 until 1992, located first in Denver, CO, then in Kingston, NY, and then in Austin Texas. After retiring from IBM Dennis became a real estate owner, including Sheahan Self Storage in Austin and Sheahan Self Storage in Georgetown, TX. He was always known as a generous landlord and co-worker, was respected by many business associates, and well-known by many others through Ross’s Sandwich Shop and Ross’s Old Austin Café. Dennis was well known for his caring and happy nature, love of laughter, and personified the “quintessential Irishman”. His recent DNA test revealed that he is, in fact, 95% Irish!!!! After years of hunting, fishing, camping, skiing and winter sports in Colorado, Dennis acquired the ranch of his dreams near Antonito, CO, where he enjoyed hayfields, pastures, horses and cattle for the past 18 years. And a river runs through it!!
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Austin, TX. and internment will be held at a later date at the St. Peters Catholic Cemetery in Willowdale, Kansas. A Memorial Service will be held at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750, on Saturday, December 15, at 3:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to your charity of choice, or to the Make A Wish Organization.
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