Friday, January 27 | 10:30 AM
Sheran, John Mark Age 72, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2022. John is preceded in death by his parents, Chief Justice Robert Sheran and Jean Brown Sheran, and his brother Michael and sister-in-law Rizalina. He is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Christina; his three children and their spouses, Laura (Nicholas Pape), Jordan (Charles Barlow), and Michael (Stephanie Zuk); and six grandchildren: Owen, Emma, Ethan, Jack, Olivia, and Henry. He is also survived by three siblings and their spouses, Tom (Linda), Kathleen (Dean Doyscher), and Daniel (Nancy), and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. John was born in Mankato on June 6, 1950 and lived there through 6th grade. He then moved with his family to St. Paul when his father was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. John graduated from St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights and received his undergraduate degree and a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. John was gifted with a quick wit, a capacity to build lasting relationships, and a natural talent for music. Without formal instruction, he taught himself to play guitar and piano by ear, performing almost any song he heard for friends and family. He also loved to dance and was a favored dance partner wherever the bands were playing. Some of his closest friends came from a notorious group known as the Double Secret Probation SAE fraternity at Creighton University. Throughout his life, he remained close to many of his SAE brothers and continued to see them through his final days. These friends fondly remember his incredible sense of humor, nicknaming him "Blade" because of his sharp wit. John's keen ability to express an amusing and often hilarious twist on even the most mundane situations kept his family and friends laughing through many difficult times, including his struggle with cancer. After law school, John returned to Mankato in 1975 to work at the Farrish Law firm, where his father and uncle had previously practiced. He was mentored by Jerry Maschka and Bob Johnson and honed his skills as a litigator here. In 1992, John and his family moved to the Twin Cities where he joined the Leonard Street and Deinard firm. John was forever grateful to both firms for their support of his practice and for the lasting friendships he developed. John retired in 2016, hoping to build a mediation practice, but his cancer re-emergence disrupted that plan. John received many recognitions as a lawyer but none more meaningful than his induction into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only fellowship for attorneys who have demonstrated the very highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality. After his nomination, he wrote in a letter to his uncle, Judge Miles Zimmerman, "I recently found out that you were behind my nomination to the American Trial Lawyers. I want to thank you for your vote of confidence, but I do feel a little like Groucho Marx who once said that he was hesitant to join any organization whose standards were so low as to accept him as a member." John felt God had blessed him in many ways beginning with his loving parents, strong sibling relationships, his caring wife, Christina, three exceptional children, and six fabulous grandchildren. For those who mourn his passing, we are left remembering the gifts he bestowed on us, his intelligence, kindness, sense of humor, love of music, and high regard for family and friends.