Gordon
Hodges Sheffield
Gordon Hodges Sheffield, 95, of Grand Island died Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at the Grand Island NE Veterans Home.
Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 13 at the Grand
Island Veterans Home All Faiths Chapel. Reverend Lonnie Logan and
Chaplain William Noer will officiate. Cremation has taken place. Burial
of ashes and graveside services will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha
with Reverend Keith Cook will officiating and military honors provided.
Gathering of family and friends will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at All Faiths Funeral Home.
There will also be a gathering held at the Presbyterian Church of the Master in Omaha ( 10710 Corby Circle) from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon following the inurnment on Saturday, July 14.
Mr. Sheffield was born October 29, 1916 at Storm Lake, Iowa, to Ralph E. and Edna (Hodges) Sheffield. His wife, Dorothy Sheffield, preceded him in death on August 29, 1999.
Those left to cherish his memory include one daughter and son-in-law, Dori and David Bush of Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Bruce and Margaret Sheffield of Raymond and Robert and Cindy Sheffield of Omaha; sister, Helen Langner of Storm Lake, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Ruth Sheffield of Midland, Michigan.
He is also survived by grandchildren, Matthew Bush (Leticia Robles) of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Tyler Bush and Scott Sheffield of Lincoln; Rebecca (Randi) Gathje of Kearney; Heather, Chad and Adam Sheffield of Omaha; great-granddaughter, Elle Sheffield; great-grandson, Ryan Gathje; and many nieces and nephews.
He was welcomed into Heaven by his wife, Dorothy; his parents; sister, Ruth Cunningham; brother, Paul Sheffield and a nephew, Morris Langner.
Mr. Sheffield grew up in Storm Lake and graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1934. He attended Buena Vista College (now University) and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 1939, a member of Rho Chi Honor Society. Following graduation, he worked at Triplett’s Drug Store in Storm Lake and then at the Toller Drug Store in Sioux City, Iowa. In September, 1940, Mr. Sheffield began a pharmaceutical sales career with Eli Lilly Co., living first in Creston, Iowa.
On August 4, 1940, he was married to Dorothy Mae Schultz at First Methodist Church in Storm Lake.
In January, 1943, Mr. Sheffield began training with the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with the 1 st Convalescent Hospital which was activated and accepted patients for a year beginning in November, 1944 on the east coast of Leyte, in the Philippine Islands. In May, 1945, Mr. Sheffield received a direct commission as a 2 nd Lt. He was honorably discharged in February, 1946. He was a 67 year member of the American Legion Post #1 ( Omaha). Following the war, Mr. Sheffield resumed his employment with Eli Lilly, working in Ottumwa, Iowa and retiring in Omaha, Nebraska in 1978.
Mr. Sheffield and his wife resided in Omaha from 1950-1979 and in Sun City, Arizona from 1979 until Mrs. Sheffield passed away in 1999. Mr. Sheffield moved to Grand Island in 2000 to be closer to his family, living at Riverside Lodge until moving to the Nebraska Veterans Home in April, 2007. Mr. Sheffield’s family would like to express sincere gratefulness to the Veterans Home staff and to the caring staff of AseraCare Hospice for their gentle care of our father and grandfather.
Mr. Sheffield was very active in Trinity Methodist Church and later at the Presbyterian Church of the Master while living in Omaha and was an Elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Arizona. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island. He enjoyed his family, reading, music and watching all sports, particularly basketball and golf. Prior to January, 2007, he was a prolific correspondent with many friends and relatives. Mr. Sheffield was a kind and generous father and grandfather, who will be greatly missed by his family and who will be remembered by many acquaintances.
In thankfulness for, and because of his belief in the importance of education, Mr. Sheffield and his wife established memorial scholarships at Buena Vista University, the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Simpson College ( Iowa), University of Dubuque ( Iowa), and Cottey College ( Missouri).
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Dorothy M. Sheffield
Scholarship at Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, MO 64772, AseraCare
Hospice and the Grand Island Veterans Home.