Joseph James Shannahan, 15 Feb 1923 - 05 Jan 2014

SHANNAHAN, GALLAGHER, WELDON, WARDENBURG, CORMAN, WELDON PITLICK, DONOVAN, VESEY, MATERN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 1/15/2014 at 16:41:02

Joseph Shannahan, 90

Funeral Mass for Joseph J. Shannahan, 90, Williamsburg, was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Williamsburg. He died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family.

The Rev. Joseph Roost officiated at the service.

Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Williamsburg, with military honors by VFW Post 8797 and the Iowa National Color Guard.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com .

Joseph James Shannahan was born Feb. 15, 1923, in Williamsburg, the son of Thomas and Regina Gallagher Shannahan. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1941 and served in the U.S. Army for three years, stationed in the South Pacific.

He returned home and married Kathryn Gallagher May 10, 1949, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. He owned and operated Joe’s Tavern, Williamsburg, for 22 years and was also a rural mail carrier for 28 years.

He served with the Williamsburg Fire Department for 25 years, serving as chief for four years. He was a lifetime member of the Iburg-Poulson VFW Post 8797 and the American Legion. He belonged to the 503rd PRTC (attending annual reunions) and the N.A.R.F.E. and the Rural Letter Carriers Association. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Williamsburg.

He was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s events. He also enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Shannahan is survived by his daughters, Sandy (Jim) Weldon, Oxford; Marcy (Kent) Wardenburg, Williamsburg, and Julie (Dan) Corman, Broomfield, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Aimee (Gary) Weldon Pitlick, Oxford; Allison (Shawn) Donovan, North Liberty; Andy Weldon, Oxford; Tony (Kristi) Wardenburg, Roxborough, Colo.; Kelly (Chris) Vesey, West Des Moines; Shannan (Stephanie) Corman, Northglenn, Colo.; Ryan Corman, Durango, Colo., and Ashandra Corman, Broomfield, Colo.; 15 great-grandchildren, Katie, Kyle, Tess and Taylor Pitlick, Addison and Jack Weldon, Regan and Finn Donovan, Brody, Rosie Lu, Dezi and Macy Wardenburg, Gavin and Landon Vesey and Madison Corman, and one sister-in-law, Ruth Shannahan, Williamsburg.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie, in 2011; his parents; one daughter, Teri Shannahan; a granddaughter, Tara Wardenburg; three brothers, Newman (Dorothy Jean), Eugene and James Shannahan, and three sisters, Mary Agnes Shannahan, Marguerite Shannahan and Dorothy (Frank) Matern.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 16 Jan 2014
Published in The Gazette 07 Jan 2014

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