Sheila Sturdevant

1939 - 2025

Sheila Catherine (Walsh) Sturdevant, 86, formerly of Moorland, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025, in her Sioux City residence surrounded by her four children. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Manson. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted with the Gunderson Funeral Home – Weishaar Chapel in Manson.

Sheila was born at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge on October 3, 1939, to Leo and Catherine (O'Hern) Walsh. She attended school in Barnum and graduated from Barnum High in 1958 before enrolling in the School of Nursing at Creighton Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha, where she graduated in 1961.

She was united in marriage to Robert Dean Miller on June 3,1961 until his sudden passing on April 11, 1963. By then, she was raising her first child Vince. She persevered as a single mother through unwavering faith and the support of her close-knit family until she met Donald Joseph Sturdevant, whom she married on March 21, 1970, in Barnum. Soon after, they moved to their Morningside home in Sioux City where they shared 53 wonderful years together. Her Irish Catholic upbringing served as the foundation for her life as she became a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church and sent four children through IC and Bishop Heelan Catholic High. For decades, she and Don were fixtures in the stands of countless Heelan events, and Sheila's dinner table was known to draw a crowd. Nursing was more than a job– it was her vocation. She devoted many years to the patients in the medical/surgical units at Marian Health Center and later as a home health nurse until her retirement. It was no accident that 2 of her children followed her steps into healthcare.

For Sheila, happiness was rooted in her role as a perpetual source of love and support. She cherished being a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. In her later years, she focused on family gatherings which were frequent and with long invite lists. Her favorite setting was Twin Lakes where the summer nights provided a scenic backdrop to watch her beloved. grandchildren.

Sheila is survived by her children Vince (Renee) Miller of Papillion, NE; Matt (Stacy) Sturdevant of Dakota Dunes, SD; Mark (Mahan) Sturdevant of Pasadena, CA and Ann (Zach) Lanham of Madison, WI; grandchildren Riley, Keelin, Trey, Shea, Shelby, Peyton, Riley, Taylor and Aspen-Rose; and her brother David (Sue) Walsh of Clare, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Catherine Walsh; husband Robert Miller; husband Donald Sturdevant; and siblings Leo, Greg, Kevin and Mark Walsh.

Sheila's family extends heartfelt gratitude to her loyal friends and to the staff at The Heritage at Northern Hills for their compassionate care and support. Memorials may be directed to the Bishop Heelan High School Wrestling Program, 1231 Grandview Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51103.