John Lawrence Sheehy

Sheehy, John Lawrence A former Milwaukee Assistant City Attorney and retired lobbyist for the then Wisconsin Gas Company died on November 21, 2011, at the age of 84. Resident of Mequon, formerly of Fox Point. John is a World War II Navy veteran, after enlisting at age 17 and graduating from the Naval Academy at Baimbridge. A graduate of Riverside High School, he received his undergraduate degree from Marquette in engineering (a first generation college graduate), he received his law degree from Marquette University in 1953. Sheehy joined the City Attorney's office and was subsequently named the city's legislative counsel serving in that capacity until 1961. John was hired by then Wisconsin Gas Co. in 1961 and retired in 1992 as head of governmental affairs. He was responsible for lobbying efforts on the federal, state, and local levels for the unity, as well as its holding company WICOR and its sister subsidiary, Sta-Rite Industries. John worked on key legislative initiatives like the low income energy assistance program, and the utility holding company bill. Sheehy continued to serve as a consultant to those organizations until 2002. He was the second generation lobbyist following his father Raymond who started digging ditches for the Gas Company around 1919 and rose to the position of assistant to the President for Government affairs retiring in 1961. John is survived by a son Timothy (Elizabeth) former MMAC lobbyist and now President of that organization, and Mary (Bill) of Indianapolis, she is a third generation former lobbyist for the utility, now Wisconsin Energy Corporation. He is also survived by sons Patrick (Susan) Mequon, Robert (Jennifer), and his grandchildren, Anna, Ryan, Conor, Ian, Jessie, Celia, Jack, Liam, and Raymond. He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years Frances "Pete" Sheehy. Visitation will be held from 4:00 7:00 PM on Monday, Nov. 28, at the Feerick Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson St., Milwaukee. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.