Napolean Anthony “Nap” Sharkey

Resided in Perkins, MI
Died July 28, 2017

Napolean Anthony “Nap” Sharkey, age 87, of Perkins, passed away Friday, July 28, 2017, at the Riverside Manor, in Rapid River, where he also resided.

Nap was born on August 18, 1929, in Perkins, the son of Napolean and Delia (Beauchamp) Sharkey. He was raised in Perkins and was a 1948 graduate of Perkins High School. Nap was employed at the Mid Peninsula School, in the janitorial department, until his retirement. During his retirement years, Nap was proud to have worked part time for the Forestry Service. He was an active member of the Silver Spur Saddle Club for 55 years, volunteered at local rodeos and the U.P. State Fair. He was given the honor of serving as Grand Marshall of 41st Annual U.P. Rodeo in 2008. He was a long standing member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, Alter Server and member of the choir. He had a quick-witted sense of humor and enjoyed leading a social life. He loved to play cards, take pictures, trips to the casino and coffee clutch with friends. He enjoyed entertaining at his camp, with good food and lots of laughs. Nap was a true gentleman and friend to the community. He will be deeply missed by all.

Survivors include:
Sister: Luella Sharkey of Milwaukee, WI
Cousins: Gerald (Mary) Beauchamp of Wells, MI
Roger (Pat) Beauchamp of Arizona
Norman (Joyce) Beauchamp of Port Huron, MI
Wendell (Wilma) Beauchamp of Mesa, AZ
Arlene Dorn of Arizona
Special Friend: Richard Schoenberger of Gladstone, MI
Nap’s parents, Napolean and Delia and sister, Gloria preceded him in death

Nap’s family will receive friends on Thursday August 3, 2017, from 11:30AM to 2:30PM, at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial will follow visiting hours on Thursday, at 3:00PM, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins, with Rev. Fr. Joseph Vandannoor officiating and Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden and Rev. Fr. Jacek Wtyklo concelebrating. Nap will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone.

21 Tributes for “Napolean Anthony “Nap” Sharkey”

    Nap was a wonderful person. He always remembered me, not by name, but knew I was Gene’s sister. This past Christmas he voluntered with us on the free community dinner in Gladstone. Now remember he was from Perkins. Just a good christian.

    I recently had the good fortune to see Nap again, after so many passing years. It was at Bishop Noa, & he came to visit my brother in law & sister. We had such a nice visit! He was just as I remembered him, a true gentleman & a very good friend to everyone he knew. I send my sincere condolences to Nap’s family & friends. He sure was a great guy! May he rest in peace.

    Sincerely,
    Cheryl Kalishek Bernard

    I am so sad to hear this. I worked with Nap my early years teaching at Mid Pen and loved talking to him and hearing his stories. He was always so kind and helpful. He had such a great laugh and always a smile.

    My deepest sympathy to Nap’s family. It was always a joy to see him and enjoyed the many stories he shared with us over the years. R. I.P. my friend.

    My family was lifelong neighbors with Nap. Our home was down the road from Nap. He continued living in the same place he was raised except for the last few years and my dad lived on the Krouth family farm most of his life except for a few years. Nap would visit my family and for years he came over in his Volkswagen Bug. He was best man at my parents’ wedding. He stayed close to my dad and his siblings and always made it to our Krouth family reunions every year. Nap was friendly and really visited with people like his dad before him was known was for, as told to us in stories by my dad’s mother. He was like a brother to my dad and dad’s siblings – especially since Nap only had the one sister. He was a man that I wish more people could be like, from a gentler, kinder generation where people would gather together and share stories with one another and Nap sure was a colorful story teller. He will be missed by all who knew him!

    Nap was my mother Arlene’s first cousin. We were so blessed and fortunate to have met up with Nap for the last time about a year ago when he came to visit us in Door County,Wi with cousin Gerald and Mary Beauchamp. It was a special time that I will always remember. I have had other fond memories of seeing him at family reunions and always admired and enjoyed his “down to earth” lifestyle, great stories and quick witted humor. He will be sadly missed by all of us. R.I.P Nappy
    Mike Dorn

    Nap was a wonderful man! I’ve known him since I was about 13. He was one of my Grandfather’s best friends. There was always a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a good laugh every time I saw him. He will be sadly missed.

    For years, Nap and his good friend, John Winker would stop by every spring for a cup of coffee and some good horse talk, after John passed, I didn’t see him for a few years, then he started back up with that spring visit, this year I was blessed with not one, but 4 visits, we shared stories, he had some great ones!! My granddaughter got to meet him, he brought me some old old horse magazines for us to enjoy, and we had planned to go visit him at his camp, I saw him drive by on Thursday,then found out he had passed friday We had even talked about him getting another horse, I told him I would keep it here for him. True gentle man. Ride On, Nap

    My friend, my riding buddy, my card playing partner. It will be hard to go on without thinking about him at all our events. Now he is free to ride with his buddy’s in heaven, John Walt, and Roy. So glad he got to go to the 50th Rodeo at Iron River. We will miss you friend.

    Our deepest sympathy from Three Hills Rodeo. Nap was always a ready, willing and able part of the U.P. Championship Rodeo and will be dearly missed. Always a smile and pleasant disposition and know that he will be smiling eternally with the cowboys that have gone before him. Rest In Peace… Cowboy.

    Fond memories of Nap, he bought his horse Blaze from us a lot of years ago, always teased that he paid too much, he loved that horse. He was a great friend of our dad, Walter Whitman and together they had a lot of horse stories. Rest in peace and meet up with Walt in that great rodeo in heaven. Will miss seeing him at the casino, where he always had a big hug for me (Sandy).

    Our heart aches for Nap, we are saddened as he left too soon from our life 🙁 We became great friends as he was so special to us, we had the pleasure of seeing and enjoying his company everyday for coffee, dinners and a shot of brandy, we loved listening to his life stories, and his adventures were never boring. Nap was at his camp daily throughout the summers entertaining guests, he was so proud of the work he’s done and loved his camp. Nap was always a happy man, we laughed and joked a lot, loved his photography as we both were into taking pictures and sharing ideas, my husband Dana talked a lot about genealogy with Nap, his knowledge and history was so interesting, shared our garden veggies, and helped Nappy with just about anything he needed and wanted. Nap will be dearly missed by us all, even Mylo ( our little mean dog loved seeing Nap). Nap was more then a friend, he was like a Dad that my husband never had and a Grandfather to our kids and grand daughter. R.I.P Nap, your a true cowboy and Blaze is ready for another ride.

    I can remember going to My Granma and Grandpa’s house for special events and Nap was always there. From Celebrating Christmas with us to coming over for the annual 4th of July party. He was like a Great Uncle who always had a smile on his face and ready to tell a story. He was like part of the family. He will be missed by everybody who had the pleasure of knowing him. I pray that Jesus has mercy on his sole as he rides off into the sunset. Rest In Peace Nap we will miss you.

    Rest in peace friend. It always was a pleasure to know Nap and be in his company. If you didn’t have a smile, he would give you one of his. I ‘ve known Nap since l971 when I met him at my first U.P. Championship Rodeo. We have been friends ever since. Always looked forward to seeing him each year. Happy Trails, my friend.

    Rest in peace friend. It always was a pleasure to know Nap and be in his company. If you didn’t have a smile, he would give you one of his. I ‘ve known Nap since l971 when I met him at my first U.P. Championship Rodeo. We have been friends ever since. Always looked forward to seeing him each year. Happy Trails, Nap.

    My heartfelt sympathy and blessings go out to Nappys family. He was a very good friend to my Dad and we all thought the world of him. He was a true pillar of the community of Perkins and St Joseph Church. One of my colleagues at the Green Bay Diocese shares stories of Nap spending time with her family when she visits the UP, which has been a great sense of staying connected to home for me. He will be sorely missed.

    A beautiful red cardinal visited us Sunday, I do believe it was Nap saying goodbye.
    Didn’t know this, but red was his favorite color.
    Funeral was nice, and the church service was beautiful. We said our farewell to a great person who we will never forget, Nap will always have a place in our hearts.
    Love ya Nap n you will be dearly missed.

    Nappy was our friend since 1957..We met him thru a mutual friend. We knew Nappy was a very religious man as it showed in his daily life. He was kind to all he met or knew until the day he passed to Heaven. Never did we hear anything negative from him. We still have his wedding gift to us (1959) in our bedroom of the crucifix sick call. We are thankful that we were able to call him our friend.

    I can’t imagine going to the Perkins Post Office and not running into Naps smiling face. It seemed every time I went there Nap was there sharing one of his many knowledgeable and amusing stories about everything and anything! He loved to stop in and chat about his “I remember when” stories. I could visualize how it used to look here from the detailed descriptions he would give. I told him he should write a book…I’d buy it! He remembered everything like it was yesterday. He would tell me how much he missed his best friend from childhood Wilbur “Bob” Selander and would ride down to the farm “just to reminisce” on his 3 wheeler. He loved to take in nature, spend time at camp, with friends, his community and with his neighbors. He truly lived life and radiated friendship. We will hold onto those special memories where you filled our hearts with laughter, and in our hearts you will forever stay. Until we meet again Nap.

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