Sheila Ann Hurley Dalton

Sheila Ann Hurley Dalton

West Branch

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Sheila Ann Hurley Dalton passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 22, 2024, after a long and courageous battle with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Most recently she resided at Linn Manor Care Center in Marion. Sheila’s family want to thank the dedicated staff from Linn Manor, past and present, who provided such loving care for her.

Sheila was born to Cornelius and Cecilia (Sullivan) Hurley on June 20, 1945, in Ottumwa. She graduated from Regina High School where she met her future husband. Sheila was married to Michael Steven Dalton on August 12, 1967. Sheila and Mike were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in Ireland with dear friends from the Air Force in 2017, just prior to Mike’s passing.

Sheila earned her B.A. in Elementary Education at the University of Iowa. She started her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary School in Iowa City, teaching first grade. She took a break for several years to raise her family and returned to teaching when her son started kindergarten. She was a beloved kindergarten teacher for the rest of her career (25 years) at Hoover Elementary in West Branch.

As an avid runner, Sheila was asked to take on the West Branch Girls’ Track Coach position when her daughters were in high school. Despite having no background in coaching, Sheila took the job, and it became one of the great joys for her and her “track girls.” Mike joined in by driving the bus to track meets.

Sheila and Mike enjoyed bicycling together and discovered the Root River Trail in Lanesboro, MN, where they ended up buying a condo and spending many weekends. We likened their condo building to a college dorm, something neither of them had the chance to experience during their college years. Our parents and the other residents were always popping in on each other to have some food, play some games, and maybe enjoy a beverage.

Sheila served on the boards of the West Branch Community Daycare and the Friends of the West Branch Public Library. She also served as a lector and on the finance committee for St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in West Branch. She was active in the West Branch PTO and served as chair for the After-Prom Committee for several years.

Sheila was very gratified to receive the 1994 Iowa Distinguished Teacher Award at a ceremony at the University of Iowa. Her family was very proud of her.

Surviving Sheila are her children: Angela Marie Jordan and her husband Dennis, Ann Christine Bagchi, and Matthew Michael Dalton. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Benjamin and Nicholas Schmucker (Whitney Schaul), Alex (Amanda) Jordan, Mackenzie Jordan (Jeff Livingston and Sienna), Nishika Bagchi, Gabriel Garcia, and Inikka, Zander, and Mira Dalton. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.

She is also survived by four sisters: Kathleen (Don) Sayles, Maureen (Bob) Eme, Theresa (Ralph) Mansfield, Peggy (Bruce) Jeffries, one brother Pat (Candace) Hurley, and former sister-in-law Diane Lahr and her husband. From the Dalton family, she is survived by her brother-in-law Barry (Juanita) Dalton, and a sister-in-law Diane Evans Dalton.

Sheila was preceded in death by her husband Mike, her parents, her brothers Dennis and Michael Hurley, brother-in-law Mark Dalton, sister-in-law Mary Bontrager, and her in-laws.

A celebration of Sheila’s life will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville. The service will be conducted by her dear cousin, Father Ed Fitzpatrick. It will be held on Sunday, November 17, at 4 pm. There will be a reception at the church following her service. There will be no interment as Sheila donated her brain for research to help uncover the mysteries around MSA.

Sheila has requested no flowers, please. She asked for any memorials to be directed to Friends of WSUI, Friends of Iowa Public Television, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Her children would like to share additional opportunities to honor Sheila: the Defeat MSA Alliance and the Sheila Hurley Dalton Endowed Elementary Education scholarship at the University of Iowa.