Ivan was born on May 7, 1938, in Grinnell, Iowa to Wayne and Mary Downing Sheets. He was raised in Brooklyn, where he attended rural school and graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1956. Following his education he worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Grinnell Shoe Company. He was married to Janice Scurlock and to this union was born two children, Brenda and Lloyd. On March 2, 1964 he was married to Sandra Asberry in Kirksville, Missouri and to this union was born three children, Donna, Ivan Jr. and Debbie. Ivan worked for KCOB Radio Station, the Riverview Correctional Facility and the Maytag Company in Newton. After his retirement he worked as a handyman in Grinnell. Ivan enjoyed photography, studying history, music, cutting firewood and restoring antique cars. He was a former member of the United Auto Workers Union-Local 997 in Newton. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Sheets of Grinnell; three daughters, Brenda (Greg) Stewart of Des Moines, Donna (Dennis) Austin and Debbie (Rick Dudley) Sheets, both of Grinnell; one son, Lloyd (Cindy) Sheets of Grapevine, TX; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and three brothers, Melvin Sheets of Boston, Massachusetts, Dwight Sheets of Cedar Rapids and Charles Sheets of Montezuma. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Ivan Sheets Jr. Ivan W. Sheets, 68, of Grinnell, died on Friday, February 16, 2007, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Memorials may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice and may be sent in care of Sandra Sheets, 426 East Street, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.