With an incredible will to live up until the end, Curtis E. Sheehan, age 97, passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2010, with his family by his side.

He was born in Arena, WI on February 16, 1913, the second son of Frank and Burnie (White) Sheehan. A graduate of Arena High School, he also received his Bachelors degree from UW-Platteville and Masters degrees in vocational agriculture and in school administration from UW-Madison. At UW-Platteville he was a 4-year letter winner each in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a member of the 1938 conference football championship team and was honored as an all-conference half-back in 1938 and 1939. He was selected by his teammates as captain of the 1939 and 1940 basketball team, and he was the recipient of the Athletic-Scholastic Award as a senior. Curt came to Sun Prairie in 1940 where he was a science teacher and head football, basketball, and baseball coach at the high school. In July 1942 he enlisted in the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in the Gene Tunney Physical Fitness Program. Later he became a Communications Officer and spent time on a cargo ship in the Pacific, as well as 18 months on a Navy destroyer. After returning from WWII in 1946 he resumed teaching at Sun Prairie High School, where he established the Department of Vocational Agriculture and the FFA and was the head baseball coach from 1947-1958. Curt especially enjoyed the opportunity he had from 1946-1963 to be the assistant football coach for his brother Francis. Together they had an overall record of 116 wins, 19 losses, and one tie and won 14 championships in 18 years. In 1960 he became the Principal of Sun Prairie High School, a position he held until his retirement in 1980.

In retirement he continued to be involved in community activities. In the 1990s, with his brother Norm and other “Leitlmen”, he worked to establish the Butch Leitl Memorial Scholarship Fund at UW-Platteville for student-athletes. He also enjoyed farming, skiing, golfing, traveling, the Packers and Badgers, and spending time with his family. Curt was recognized for his service as an educator by the Sun Prairie Exchange Club with the first Book of Golden Deeds Award. In 1973 was elected to the UW-Platteville Hall of Fame for his achievements in football, basketball and baseball, and in 1997 he was elected to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was a member and past president of the Sun Prairie Lions Club and recipient of the Melvin Jones Award. He and his brother Fran were recognized by the City of Sun Prairie for their many contributions to the youth of the community with the dedication of Sheehan Park in 1977.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of almost 62 years Mary (Krebs); four children, Dennis (Louise) of Rochester, MN, Margaret (Carl Maguire) of Del Mar, CA, Bette of Middleton, and John (Amy) of Cedar Rapids, IA; six grandchildren, John (fiancee Karen Persis), Sarah, Laura, Tom, AJ, and Mary; step-grandchildren Christopher, Jeanette, Carl Jr., and Patrick Maguire, three sisters, Betty Pailing, Kathleen (Paul) Kaderabek, and Peggy Reynolds; in-laws JoAnn Sheehan, June Sheehan, Bette Krebs, Kay Krebs, and John and Audrey Krebs; cousins and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Francis, Norman, Harland, and Robert, a sister Mary Digney, and other relatives.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 227 Columbus Street in Sun Prairie with Monsignor Duane Moellenberndt presiding. Burial will be held at Sacred Hearts Cemetery where graveside military rites will be held by the Sun Prairie American Legion Post 333. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 2010 at the Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home, 302 Columbus Street in Sun Prairie and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Saturday. A Lions Club Honor Guard will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Sacred Hearts Building and Grounds Fund, to the Sun Prairie Education Foundation, or to the UW-Platteville Foundation for student scholarships.

Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com