Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Clay County > Meckling > Meckling Cemetery > John Frederick Sealey

John Frederick Sealey

Birth	:	2 Nov 1924 Meckling, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	16 Mar 2017 Meckling, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Meckling Cemetery, Meckling, Clay County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.8252983, -97.0919037
Description	:	John Sealey, 92, died suddenly on Thursday, March 16th at his lifetime home. EMS attempts to revive him were to no avail. With him were his wife, daughter and son-in-law. John Frederick Sealey was born November 2, 1924 near Meckling SD on the family farm, the son of Fred and Caroline (Demann) Sealey. He grew up on the farm, attended Meckling School and graduated in 1943. John married his high school sweetheart, Agnes Roberts, on August 7, 1943. They had 4 children and enjoyed more than 73 years together. John, known to many as "Big John," spent his life in service to his... Read More	John Sealey, 92, died suddenly on Thursday, March 16th at his lifetime home. EMS attempts to revive him were to no avail. With him were his wife, daughter and son-in-law. John Frederick Sealey was born November 2, 1924 near Meckling SD on the family farm, the son of Fred and Caroline (Demann) Sealey. He grew up on the farm, attended Meckling School and graduated in 1943. John married his high school sweetheart, Agnes Roberts, on August 7, 1943. They had 4 children and enjoyed more than 73 years together. John, known to many as "Big John," spent his life in service to his family, community and the Odd Fellows organization. With his father and brothers, he helped farm the acreage his grandfather purchased in 1915 which was passed down to him and Agnes. They worked the land progressing from horse/mule drawn farm equipment to the 1949 Farmall that still resides on the farm. Even though suffering from rheumatic fever twice, during high school and 10 years apart, he regained his health and strength enabling him to continue farming until his retirement. To supplement the family income, John became a "jack of all trades." In the 1930's he helped erect the first electric telephone poles in Clay County to bring electricity and telephones to the farm and community. He picked up and delivered milk and cream to the local creamery, Austin Dairy, besides helping neighbors with milking and farming when needed. John served on the Meckling School board, the township board and remained a lifelong member of the Meckling/Bergen Lutheran Churches. During the summers, he and Agnes mowed the local cemeteries. John also installed telephone lines and worked as a journeyman electrician for Willett Electric, Vermillion, SD; sold watermelons in Sioux Falls, SD for his Uncle Art; was a janitor and bus driver at the Meckling School; was head mechanic at Oden Implement in Vermillion and at the Sioux Alfalfa Mill near Meckling before opening and operating his own mechanics shop, "Sealey's Friendly Service," on the family farm in 1971 until he retired in 1989. At one point he even taught "shop" at the farm for Vermillion High School. He was a great welder, inventor, wood worker and carpenter that kept him busy well past his retirement years to the present - over 3000 "Toast-eze" were made over 30 years. John was active in every branch of the International Order of Odd Fellows since 1944, holding offices in every branch at the local, state, national and international levels, becoming the General Commanding of the Patriarchs Militant for the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1989. He and Agnes traveled to nearly all 50 states in their official capacities as well as to Denmark, making friends wherever they went, including working on Rose Parade floats in Pasadena CA for several years. John also served as the SD Grand Secretary for 5 years and earned the Decoration of Chivalry. He also belonged to the Masons for a time. John loved singing, dancing, playing the drums with a band for lodge and community dances and playing cards. He sang in the church choir, at weddings and funerals and with the local SPEBSQSA (Barbershop) group for many years. He played cards at the lodge, the Senior Center and the yearly Pitch Games in Gayville. He kept up his card playing days (pinochle, cribbage and any other card game to be played) with family and friends as recent as Tuesday at the Senior Center and the day before he died, playing cribbage with son Mike. They each won a game! His one dream in life, that he never got to do, was truck driving. He did a lot of driving but never got to drive the "big rig." John is survived by his wife, Agnes; son, Michael; daughter, Jane (Mike) Slattery; grandchildren, Nick (Cindy) Slattery, Tom (Jean) Slattery, Jim (Carmen) Slattery, Randy (Nancy) Huot, Cliff (Sherrie) Huot, Ladonna (Donovan) Leach, Kim (Jim) VanderWoude and Bill (Susan) Sealey. Great grandchildren, Rayanna, Shane, Aaron, James, Hannah, Lucas, Jacob, Reggan, Seth, Sadie, Kevin, Brianna, Haley, Colby, Samantha, Elizabeth, Naomi, Courtney, Kayla, Emma, Robbie and Hayden; nieces and nephew, Carol Regel, Sue Less, Ruth Richling and Jim Sealey; a step sister, Elinore Bobier; his in-law nephews, the Joslins and the Linsleys; and Alice Peters. Preceding him in death were John's parents, brothers, Harold and George, baby sister, Olive, daughter Nancy Huot, son, John "Joe" Sealey and great grandson, Matthew Sealey. He will be sorely missed by his family and the many friends and neighbors. [Courtesy: Kober Funeral Home]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Frederick Sealey's memorial?
John Frederick Sealey's memorial is located at: Meckling Cemetery, Meckling, Clay County, USA.
When did John Frederick Sealey death?
John Frederick Sealey death on 16 Mar 2017 in Meckling, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Frederick Sealey's memorial?
Latitude: 42.8252983
Longitude: -97.0919037

Family Members:

Parent

Fred Elmer Sealey

(1889 - 1988)

Caroline D. DeMann Sealey

(1894 - 1975)

Spouse

Agnes Fern Roberts Sealey

(1925 - 2018)

Siblings

Harold Demann Sealey

(1921 - 1991)

Olive May Sealey

(1927 - 1927)

George Gilbert Sealey

(1933 - 2012)

Children

Nancy Sealey Huot

(1945 - 1994)

Michael David Sealey

(1946 - 2020)

Jane Marie Sealey Slattery

(1948 - 2021)

John Kenneth “Joe” Sealey

(1950 - 2012)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Meckling Cemetery
Meckling, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8252983, -97.0919037

2. Taylor Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8372002, -97.0785980

3. Evergreen Cemetery
Meckling, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7896996, -97.0903015

4. Trinity Danish Lutheran Church Cemetery
Gayville, Yankton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8222008, -97.1605988

5. Clay Creek Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8516998, -96.9788971

6. Gayville Community Cemetery
Gayville, Yankton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8950005, -97.1800003

7. Saints Philip and James Catholic Cemetery
Saint James, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7338500, -97.1438200

8. Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
Wynot, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7445900, -97.1717700

9. Saint Helena Cemetery
Saint Helena, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8121986, -97.2347031

10. Wynot Public Cemetery
Wynot, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7340200, -97.1699300

11. Mortvedt Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9169006, -97.0028000

12. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Westerville, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9247017, -97.0124969

13. Bethel Baptist Cemetery
Wakonda, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9393570, -97.0433520

14. Spirit Mound Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8885994, -96.9424973

15. New Lodi Cemetery
Lodi, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9530983, -97.0417023

16. Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery
Saint Helena, Cedar County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7866000, -97.2681500

17. Saint Patricks Catholic Cemetery
Wakonda, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9672012, -97.0516968

18. Saint Agnes Calvary Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7715900, -96.9072100

19. Bluff View Cemetery
Vermillion, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7714000, -96.9056000

20. Halverson Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6908600, -97.0013500

21. Volin Cemetery
Volin, Yankton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9672012, -97.1707993

22. Clay Point Cemetery
Prairie Center Township, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8987700, -96.9065600

23. Maskell Cemetery
Maskell, Dixon County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6878014, -96.9916992

24. Union Cemetery
Wakonda, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9827995, -97.1222000