Kay Co., OK - Obits: Arthur John "Art" Sheik ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Lovena Norton USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** Obituaries April 11, 2002 Arthur John "Art" Sheik Arthur John "Art" Sheik, longtime Newkirk area farmer, died late Monday night, April 8, 2002 at his home in Ponca City. He was 79. The son of Peter K. and Clara Anna (Voegele) Sheik, he was born June 5, 1922 at Newkirk. He grew up on the family farm and received his education at St. Francis Catholic School in Newkirk, and he graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School in Ponca City. After graduation he was employed in Wichita as a welder. On Dec. 4, 1943 he and Mabel Marie Beikman were married in Wichita. On Dec. 21 he entered into active service with the United States Army. He served with the 147th Infantry in the Western Pacific as a construction machine operator and received an honorable discharge Jan. 17, 1946. After his return to the United States he moved his family to Newkirk. He took over his father's dairy and wheat farming operation. He also drove a school bus for the Peckham schools for 15 years. He retired from the farm in 1988 and they moved to their present address in Ponca City. Sheik was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus and he was also a member of the American Legion Huff Minor Post 14 and was a lifetime member of the VFW Harvie Kothe-Ed Rieman Post 1201. His special interests included hunting, fishing and motorcycles. He is survived by his wife, Mabel; three sons and their wives, Randy and Lori Sheik of Oklahoma City, Ronnie and Shelly Sheik, and Jerry and Laura Sheik, all of Newkirk; eight daughters and their husbands, Joan and A.J. Ford, and Kathy and Larry Whitworth, all of Newkirk, Sandra Keltch of Enid, Donna and Mike Burns of Carrollton, TX, Marsha and Randy Trant of Ponca City, Annette and Derrell Langford of Mustang, OK, Karen and Mike Heilman of Chickasha, OK and Laurie and Mike Kretchmar of Okarche, OK; one brother, Joe Sheik of Newkirk; one sister, Stella Holland of Blackwell; 25 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Christian Wade Ford and Amy Nicole Trant. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, April 12 in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Newkirk with the Rev. John Michalicka of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ponca City as celebrant. Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. Grandchildren serving as casket bearers will be Curtis Ford, Terry Perkins, Steve Perkins, Ryan Trant, Matthew Ford, Eddie Burns, Tyler Whitworth, Robbie Trant, Christopher Burns, Brent Sheik, Josh Sheik, Adam Kirkley, Jeremy Kirkley, Austin Kretchmar and Zachary Kretchmar. A memorial fund has been established with Hospice of Ponca City. Contributions may be made through Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk 74647-0468. ----