Carroll Sheldon

Carroll Sheldon, 88, of Kearney died Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at his daughter’s home in Olathe, KS. Funeral services are scheduled Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at Living Faith Fellowship Church in Kearney. Rev. Doug Shada will officiate and burial with military rites provided by the Kearney V.F.W. Post #759, Kearney American Legion Post #52 and the Nebraska National Guard Military Honors team will be at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation is planned Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home in Kearney or prior to services at the church on Saturday. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Carroll was born in Kearney on June 18, 1928 to Earl and Pearl (Byerley) Sheldon. He grew up in Kearney and graduated from Longfellow High School in 1946. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the United States Army from 1950 – 1952. Carroll was a self-made man. He came from a farming family and was the 10th of 12 children. On August 23, 1953, he married Helen Marie Schuetz at the First Christian Church in Kearney. They spent the next 8 years working around the country: Carroll as a master mechanic and Helen as a nurse. In 1961, they settled in Kearney and Carroll started building a number of rental properties. In 1962, Carroll and Helen welcomed their son, Douglas Lee; in 1966 adopted their daughter Suzanne Dee (born 1963); and in December 1966 welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie. Family was very important to Carroll. In 1966, he and his 11 siblings began the Annual Sheldon Reunion. This was always kicked off with homemade ice cream at his home. Community service was also very important to Carroll. He served as a city councilman for 13 years and was also on a variety of boards for agriculture and the community. He owned and operated Kearney Dragway from 1964 to 1989. His passion for Corvettes led him to bring over 300 mid-1960’s Stingrays back from California which he then sold many of them at his dragstrip. During the 1980’s, he sold some of his commercial real estate and started acquiring farm ground. Surviving relatives include his son, Douglas of Olathe, KS; daughters: Suzanne Hofmann and husband Mitch of Spring Hill, KS, and Lisa Salmen and husband Richard of Olathe, KS; five grandchildren: Logan, Austin and Brianne Hofmann, and R.J. and Alexa Salmen; 2 brothers: Sid Sheldon and Darrell Sheldon and wife Barb; and many nieces, nephews & friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; five brothers: Floyd, Merl, Harold, Leon and Stanley; and four sisters: Beulah Brust, Verna Sands, Doretha Griffin and Violet Smithburg.

Tributes

Carroll Sheldon

July 12, 2016