John Sheda

On Nov. 16, 1974, John Sheda and Deborah Veit were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chelsea. As true in most Chelsea weddings, there was a dance later that evening at the ZBCJ Hall with a good old Polka band playing their hearts out to a town filled with Boheme’s. In Chelsea, very few invitations were usually sent out simply because at town weddings, the entire town was invited. Heck, we’re all friends, right? Standing up with Deb, was her niece, Beverly and two of her best friends, Linda & Lois. John’s had three of his friends, Allen Kenny & Larry helping John from fainting. Jerry Veit was the Lector that day and T.J. Jacobi & Tom Sheda were the Altar boys. Our wonderful Priest was Father JS Skluzacek who helped us along every step of the way. Truly both Deb and I owe a lot of our faith walk today to Fr. Skluzacek.

Well, update to the present time, Deb & I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary several weeks ago with a surprise celebration, hosted by our three daughters, Sarah, Annie & Kaye as well as our three Grand-children, Jasmine, Kieryn and Andrew. Deb & I have now lived in Independence for the past forty years but still deep down consider ourselves “Chelsea-ites.” You can take a person out of and away from Chelsea but you can never take the Chelsea out OF a person. To go along with that, we live in Mustang territory but will always be Trojans in our spirits. Deb graduated in ’70 and myself in the best class ever, 1969.

Our girls surprised us with a huge party in Independence and it was so good to see so many of our Chelsea friends and relatives. As the old cigarette commercial went, “We’ve come a long way baby,” Deb and I have been blest in so many ways. We now are Pastor’s of our church, and have been for thirty years now. Now here’s a thought that oughta believe that there is a God. I am now a Pastor and my cousin and friend Joe Behounek is a Deacon of the Catholic Church. Joe, If someone would have told us this might happen to us on those Friday or Saturday nights so many years ago. The only thing on our minds way back then was getting some more “Pivo.” A good Boheme’ knows what Pivo is.

So to close, Deb and I have invited all of you to come join us at the old “Sheda Ranch,” and help us celebrate our 75th anniversary. The date is November 16, 2049! Remember, Sheda’s Ranch south of town. My nephew Curt will get it all cleaned up and ready for us. Come on, Curt, you got 25 years!! Be blest and RSVP me at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640.