Thomas Francis Shannahan, 11 Jan 1947 - 13 Sep 2024

SHANNAHAN, OLNEY, PARKS, YOCKEY, TATE, GILMORE, WOLF

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 10/24/2024 at 15:31:53

Thomas Francis Shannahan, 77, of Cedar Rapids, passed away after a short battle with cancer on Friday, September 13, 2024. Services will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024, 11:00 am at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 4:00-7:00 pm at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Stateroom. A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held at the Knights of Columbus Council #909 immediately following the funeral.

Tom spent his life trying to be the best father, husband, friend and sibling. He was born on January 11th 1947, and had a zest for life and enjoyed many things. Tom cherished his childhood years while growing up in Williamsburg Iowa. Tom would often say that if his mom wasn’t cooking what he wanted for lunch or dinner, then grandma’s house was just a short walk away and she’d make him whatever he would ask for. As the eldest sibling, he was of course, spoiled the most. Tom returned to Williamsburg countless times for countless reasons, but each visit was important and memorable to him. He enjoyed the drive through town and would often tell stories about the family homes from years ago and all the friends and family too.

Tom and his family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1962 and he graduated from Washington High School in 1965. While at Washington, Tom continued with his passion of playing baseball. He was a talented player but also was a scholar of the game and all of its nuances and how it should be played. Tom had an uncanny memory and knowledge of baseball. He was an avid collector of baseball cards and baseball memorabilia. He didn’t just collect cards though, he read and studied them. You could randomly pick a card out of a box and tell him who it was, and he would tell you the players position, what teams they had played for, statistics, etc. It was amazing.

Tom loved St Patrick’s Day. Each year he and his friends from the Home Port and his brothers would enter a float in the annual SaPaDaPaSo parade in downtown Cedar Rapids. The day of the parade was always fun but Tom enjoyed the friendships and prep time it took to prepare for the parade even more. Quite often his extended family from Williamsburg would come into town that day and he loved having everyone together even if it was just for a few hours.

Tom was of course an avid Hawkeye fan. While football was probably what he enjoyed the most it wasn’t uncommon to find him in the stands in Iowa City when the baseball team was playing. He enjoyed being at the ballpark watching the Hawkeyes and seeing the games. Tom also loved to go golfing but you wouldn’t know that if you were playing the round with him because he was very hard on himself and his game. To hear him talk, you’d think he had never swung a club before but that wasn’t the case at all. Tom was a fan of rock n roll too but was an avid fan of the Rolling Stones and their music. Tom attended many Rolling Stones concerts and would readily tell you that Mick Jagger knew him and always called him Shanny.

Tom didn’t always let the truth get in the way of a great story either. Recently Tom really enjoyed spending time with his brothers two grandchildren, Blair and Spencer. Tom would playfully tell them that he was going to “womp their tater” and then proceed to tap their bottoms. The two caught onto Toms trick though and relished in not letting him get them every time. Tom was the oldest of 10 children, all who loved him very much.

Tom went to college at Coe College and Upper Iowa University where he studied business. He met and married Pam Olney but later divorced. Tom and Pam had two children, Dan Shannahan and Darcy Parks.

Tom is survived by his children Dan Shannahan and Darcy(Vince) Parks. He had three grandchildren; Cassie(Marcus) Yockey, Raelee Shannahan and Logan Parks. Tom’s siblings, Sue(Harry) Tate, Pam Shannahan, Lyn Shannahan, Rex(Maggie) Shannahan, Mona Gilmore, Jackie Shannahan and Scott Shannahan(Mickey).

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Newman Shannahan, his sister Peg Wolf, his brother Kevin Shannahan, his brothers in law Dave Gilmore and Ted Wolf.

Tom’s family would like to express their deep appreciation and thanks to the staff at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice of Mercy House in Hiawatha for their support and kindness.

Published on Cedar Memorial Funeral Home website.