Obituary of Max Sheley

A Memorial Service for Max Sheley, age 75, of Milford will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2:30pm at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 1:30-2:30pm at the church.

Max passed away on April 27, 2023 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Max Edward Sheley was born Dec. 19, 1947, in Spencer to Chet (Martin Chester) and Opal Sheley (Minor).  He and his brother Bob were raised in Milford. 

He joined the US Navy on Feb. 28, 1965, where he served in the communication division as a Radioman Class “A” on the Supercarrier, USS Ranger CVA-61. While in the Navy he received the National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Bronze Star for his heroic service in the Vietnam War. On Dec. 17, 1968, he was released from the Navy with an Honorable Discharge. He loved serving his country and was proud to be a Veteran. After he got out of the Navy, he pursued a college education. He has an Arts degree from Iowa Lakes Community College and then completed another year and a half of college.

Max married the love of his life, Bambi Smith, in Jackson, MN on June 22, 1969. They had two daughters: Ginger and Niki. The family lived in Spencer and Fostoria for a few years, eventually moving to Milford where they continued to raise their family and spent the remainder of their lives together.

His passion was motorcycles, especially Harley Davidsons. He owned many different bikes during his lifetime and enjoyed detailing them and riding with his grandsons. In 2016 he began attending First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji and officially became a member on February 26, 2017. He loved attending the 6:00pm service and connecting with the people there. Finding God and people that accepted him brought him joy, comfort and hope. He had several beloved pets throughout his lifetime; his first dog Tippy, his last dogs Touchdown & TJ, his and Bambi’s first dog Tony, four cats; Mighty Man and Patches, and currently Tabitha and Tobias. He was a generous man and contributed monthly to many charities; Alley Cat Rescue, Vietnam Veterans of America, PETA, VFW and St. Joseph’s Indian School to name a few.

Max most recently worked as a custodian at Polaris in Spirit Lake until 2015 when he was diagnosed with metastasized prostate cancer that left him disabled. Prior to that he worked at Okoboji Harley Davidson detailing and delivering motorcycles. He worked much of his life at Style Craft in Milford, first working in the wood shop, eventually becoming a custodian. He was a hard worker his entire life, providing for his family.

He is survived by his daughters Ginger Waskow and her husband Tim of Sioux Falls, SD, and Niki Origer and her husband Dan of Estherville, IA, eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and his brother Bob Sheley and wife Linda of Spirit Lake, IA. He is one of a kind and will also be greatly missed by many people in the Milford community.

Max was preceded in death by his parents Chet and Opal Sheley and wife Bambi Sheley.