Gerald Leo Sheedy

Gerald “Jerry” Leo Sheedy of Okeechobee, Florida passed away on Thursday January 16, 2025, at the age of 90 years old. He was born on June 27, 1934, in Harvard, Nebraska. He lived on the Sheedy family farmstead in Clay County, Nebraska with his hardworking parents and four other brothers, near the end of the Great Depression.

Jerry graduated from Central Catholic High School in Portland Oregon.

He worked as an auto mechanic and auto parts expert in his self-owned business named “Jerry’s Parts & Repairs”. “Junkman” Jerry was masterful at auto repair and creative tinkering. He could fix anything!

In 1956, Jerry was married to Joy Sheedy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Afterwards they moved to Nebraska for a year, where they had their first daughter. They quickly returned to the warm weather of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where they continued to build their family with three more children. In 1973, once their kids were in Junior High and High School, they moved to Okeechobee, Florida.

“Junk Man” Jerry worked successfully in his Okeechobee “Parts and Repairs” business until he retired. At that point, He and Joy moved to their lake home in Haines City, Florida where they enjoyed beautiful sunrises and wildlife watching for 25 years. In recent years, 2021, they returned to Okeechobee, Florida to be closer to their family.

Jerry was actively involved as a Parrish member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a Grand Knight in his Knights of Columbus group. He loved hunting and fishing. He was known for his excellent shotgun shooting skills. He enjoyed achieving the dream of obtaining his pilot’s license and flying his own Cessna 172.

Pop’s and Granny Joy’s summers were spent at their beloved cabin in the North Carolina mountains where he loved cultivating his garden, tinkering with old farming equipment in the tobacco barn, hunting, making wine, and, most of all, enjoying annual visits from his grandkids, great grandkids, and many other friends/family members.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Shafer, in 1942 and father, Melvin Sheedy, in 1946. Also, by his four brothers, John, James (Jim), Robert (Bob), and Neil Sheedy.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 69 years, Henryetta Joy Sheedy. Also, by his four children and their spouses: Margie and Jerry Hartlein, Jerry and Myla Sheedy, David and Kay Sheedy, and Betsy/Mary and Mathew Litz along with 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, and caregivers at HF Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne, Florida and at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in his final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 901 SW 6th Street Okeechobee, Florida 34974 on Saturday February 15, 2025 at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please consider making a donation in Jerry’s honor to Hospice of Okeechobee & The Hamrick Home – Contact Info: (863) 467-2321 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1548 Okeechobee, FL 34973, Email: www.hospiceofokeechobee.org or William Childs Hospice House – Contact Info: (321) 434-8400 Mailing address: 381 Medplex Parkway Palm Bay, FL 32907, Email: https://hf.org