William Shelledy Obituary

William J. (Bill) Shelledy, loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully at his home Monday morning surrounded by his family. Cremation rites have been accorded and a Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 2, 2012 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines. A private graveside service will take place at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Bill was born January 28, 1938 in Des Moines, Iowa to Frank and Margaret Shelledy. He attended All Saints Elementary, Dowling High School, and Iowa State University. Bill was a lifelong area resident except for brief periods in Los Angeles and Ottumwa for career opportunities. He worked in his father's grocery store, at Homesteader's Life with his mom, and lifeguarded at Avon Beach in high school. After college, he went on to pursue a career in the early days of data processing at Meredith Corporation, Starkist, and Iowa Drug. For many years he ran his own firm, Shelledy and Associates, doing contract programming and keypunch services for many area companies. Always an entrepreneur, he also worked in advertising and financial sales. Later he turned to real estate investments, though his soft heart sometimes got in the way of maximizing his profit, especially when children or the less fortunate were involved.

Bill was a man of varied interests who enjoyed singing in the Dowling High School Glee Club, performing with his quartet at the Val Air Ballroom, volunteering with the WDM Jaycees, playing pitch with his buddies, and reading to students at St Anthony's School. He enjoyed golfing at Hyperion with his parents and son, local courses with his friends and at his Branson condo with his family. His sense of adventure took him from the Snake River canyon and the islands of the Caribbean, to family vacations on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Brookside resort in Minnesota and the campgrounds at Cutty's, a favorite memory of his daughters.

Bill will always be remembered for his witty sense of humor, his generosity towards those in need, and his love for and devotion to his family. Survived by his wife of 36 years, Jeanne R. Shelledy of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Steve (Liz) Shelledy of Lenexa, Kansas; daughters, Ginger (Marty) Blanchard of West Des Moines, Iowa, Sue (John) Shocklee of Saint Louis, Missouri and Teresa Benbenek of Saint Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Ryan and Nicole Shelledy, Maggie, Reed, Anna, and Lexie Blanchard, Doug (Kailie) Pennington, John Jr. (Heather) and Sarah Shocklee, Hayden and Quin Benbenek; 4 great grandchildren, Aidan Shelledy, Faith Pennington and Grace and Jack Burle; brother, Jack Shelledy of Des Moines, Iowa; sister, Margie Goff of Raleigh, North Carolina; 10 nephews and 4 nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Margaret Shelledy; mother-in-law, Ona Sleper and a grandson, Chad Pennington.

The Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, March 1, at Iles Funeral Homes - Westover Chapel, where a Vigil service will begin at 7 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the "Everybody Wins Iowa" Reading Program or the American Diabetes Association.

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ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES FUNERAL HOMES ~ WESTOVER CHAPEL.

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