Sheldon John Ward

Sheldon John Ward, the fuel behind our family passed away peacefully, November 5, 2024, surrounded by his family. Sheldon battled Parkinson’s for over 20 years and never once complained about the trial he was given. He was born on January 8, 1949. As a child he traveled around the world with his siblings, Lynn (Ken) Kofoed, Jim (Jan) Ward, Carol Caughey, Jennifer (Brent) Worlton, while his father served our country in the military. While feeling blessed for these experiences, he came to realize that settling into family life was the greatest blessing that life had to offer. Sheldon married Joan Wheadon on April 22, 1977 in the Salt Lake Temple and became a father and husband of selflessness, never putting himself in to the equation. His greatest pleasure was supporting and serving in every capacity in the family, including; cook, coach, uber, referee, and even learned to braid and curl the girls’ long hair on Saturday night so they could be ready for church on Sunday. 

Sheldon’s love for his children quickly shifted as he became a grandpa. His children, Brooke (Jae) Moon, Wendy (Marcus) Wyner, Shannon, Joanie and Zak Ward, Erika Wheadon & Jessica (Casey) Copier, quickly took a back seat as they added one grandchild after another. His love for Maeli, Molly, Ellie & Bronson Moon; Payson, Luke, Shanley, Brielle, Tate & Nash Wyner; Kade & Sydney Didericksen; Vienna, Abby, Taylee, Layla & Kai Copier, grew deep as he had many opportunities to spend time with them, taking them for golf cart rides, feeding the animals, or having them pile into his tiny bedroom, bouncing and jumping all over the bed as he tried to watch a ballgame amongst the yelling. As time went on and he couldn’t attend their ball games and activities, he still wanted all the details when they returned. 

Sheldon’s greatest wish for his family would be to treat each other with love, learn to say I’m sorry, and always be there for each other and never hold a grudge, which he was a great example of. He will be at all their events now with a smile on his face, cheering for their happiness, which he knows comes through being like the Savior. His love of service to his family is their inheritance. 

One of the things Sheldon taught his family was to include anyone and everyone who needed a place to be, a quality he learned from his Aunt Dora. She allowed him to move into her home to attend High School in Cleveland, Utah, amongst his extended family, which was life-changing for Sheldon. Her sacrifice, and others’ examples, put him on a path of love and happiness for life. Because of this act of kindness to him, our family enjoyed that same blessing of often enjoying extras in our home. 

Sheldon was non-judgmental and didn’t see flaws in others, or if he did, he didn’t mention it. He was truly unique in that our wishes became his wishes (we’re not sure he had any of his own.) To be like him would be to be completely unselfish in every way. While his daughter Shannon was in the hospital for over a year, he would leave home for his shift four hours early for work every night to spend time with her at the hospital before heading to the Railroad for the graveyard shift. Sheldon’s love of his family was always ahead of his love of self. 

Even though he could no longer contribute like he wanted, we are missing him already. Sheldon would sit in his chair and try to think of things that would make our lives easier; reminding us to be sure to pay the taxes, get tires on the vehicles, and on and on. We know Sheldon is having a great reunion with our family that has gone on before us, having had several experiences during his years of immobility that taught him that there is life after this one. He cherished a sure knowledge that he would be reunited with loved ones someday.

Waiting for him in heaven were his daughter Shannon, faithful dog Chip, parents Bill and Bunny, in-laws Norma and Dell Wheadon, Gene Wheadon, Doug (Vienna) and Dave Wheadon, Darrell Cox & Skip (Callie Perkins) Criner - all of whom our family misses and looks forward to joining someday soon. 

Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the LDS Church at 9894 South 2700 West in South Jordan, Utah. Friends may call Monday, November 11, 2024from 6:00-8:00 pm and one hour prior to services at the same LDS church. Internment at South Jordan City cemetery. Independent Funeral Services.

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