James, “Jim,” “Jimbo,” Kenneth Sheets 82 years of age, passed away peacefully at his beloved farm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Cantril, Iowa. As were his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service in Jim’s honor will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Keosauqua, IA with Larry Shipley officiating. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at 9:30 on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the funeral home and will last until the time of service.Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor may be directed to the Bowen Family Farm Disabled Veterans’ Hunt or to
the Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) and mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Jim was a donor and proud to do so, please consider donation at iowadonornetwork.com. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
He was born in Denver, Colorado on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1942, to Ivan Kenneth Sheets and Mamie Isabelle Thomas. Jim enlisted into the Air Force from September 1961 to September 1965. He was a Vietnam Veteran who volunteered to go to Vietnam and was in the Air Security Force stationed in Da Nang. After he was honorably discharged, he went to college at Metropolitan State College where his class was the first to graduate. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He also met his best friend and love of his life
Heather Anne Cowan during his time at Metro. They were married on September 1, 1968, and were life partners for fifty-six years.
After proudly serving 38 years as a civil servant, he retired from the federal government in 2000. In 2005, he achieved his lifelong dream of living on a farm and planting trees. He was a voracious reader, and an avid Broncos fan. He loved making furniture for family gifts; admiring the beginning and ending of every day; walking with his dogs; feeding and watching birds; spending time with family; collecting weather station data; planting; mowing; and being outside.
Jim/Dad/Jimbo loved a passionate debate especially with his son, and his motherin-law Bert. Known as being “stupidly stubborn” aka a Sheets. He was always willing to stop and help anyone who needed it. He was a mentor for women who worked with and for him. He encouraged everyone he touched to be the best they could be by believing in them even when they did not believe in themselves. Truthfulness and honesty were paramount in the way he lived his life and in the relationships he cherished.
He is remembered by his loving, devoted wife Heather Sheets, his children daughter Kellie Sheets, daughter Shannon (Antoine) Tissot, and son Sean (Amanda) Sheets. Amanda married Sean but Jim considered her as a third daughter, not just a daughter-in-law. He is fondly remembered as “Pa” by his granddaughters, Ezri, and sister Liat Sheets. His brother Charlie (Shirley-Anne) Sheets, his sister, Linda (Larry) Keller, and other family members, sister-in-law, Rosemary (Steve) Usher, nephew, Eric (Wil) Keller, niece Lisa Keller, niece Sara Keller (Adam De Leeuw), cousin Paul (Jane) Wells, cousin Deanna (Randy) Lagos, cousin Steve (Brenda) Thomas, grand-nephew Harrison Casper, grand-niece Athena De Leeuw, grand-nephew Leo DeLeeuw, and Sang (Teo) Cho will hold him dearly in their memories.
