John Gordon Shea, 83, a lifetime resident of Ironwood, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 5, 1924, in Wakefield, son of the late Dennis and Tynne Marie Shea. John attended local schools and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1942. He proudly served in the Navy and received an honorable discharge with several decorations and citations. During his tour of naval duty he attended the University of Kansas. Following his discharge in 1944, he returned to Ironwood where he worked for the Armour Co. and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Later, he worked in the Newport and Geneva mines until their closing, and then at White Pine Copper Co. Upon leaving White Pine Copper Co., he was employed by the City of Ironwood in 1969 at Pioneer Park Apartments until his retirement. On Oct. 30, 1948, he was married to the former Ann Elizabeth Mesich at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood by the Rev. Edward Mikelich. Ann survives. John was a former member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, its Holy Name Society, and presently a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. John was a tireless pillar of strength who lived with a strong love for life and his dedication to work. His passion was carpentry. He loved spending time in his yard, garage, and basement workshop doing woodworking projects for family and friends. He was an outdoors enthusiast who especially liked hunting. John was very sports minded; following the Ironwood Red Devil sports teams, the Gogebic Samson basketball team, and the Green Bay Packers. He liked reading, playing smear, and crossword puzzles. John cherished his children and supported them in their academic and sport endeavors. But above all, he took pride in watching his granddaughters grow. John is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Ann, of Ironwood; a son, Mike (Mary), Houghton; daughters, Jane (Terry) Campbell, Marquette, and MaryPat (David) Kelly, Watersmeet; three granddaughters, Dr. Patricia (Jay) Christopherson, Rhinelander, Wis., Abby (Karl) Shunk, Marquette, and Jackie Shea, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Clem and Rose Kolesar, and Mike and Ann Mesich, all of Ironwood, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Dennis Shea, and his in-laws, John and Anna Mesich, and brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Milo and Mary Raikovich and John and Lois Mesich. In accordance with John's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committtal will be held in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Visitation will be held in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 a.m. until Mass time on Tuesday. To view John's obituary online, sign the register book and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood, is assisting the family. John will always be grateful for the kindness and caring he and they received from the staff at Grand View Hospital, Westgate Living Center, relatives and friends