William F. Sheahan III

William F. Sheahan III August 9, 1945 – January 13, 2026 Bill always said his obituary should say, “He’s a goner!” However, his family has more to say: Longtime Topeka architect Bill Sheahan, 80, died peacefully with his family near in Burbank, CA on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. He and his wife Marsha were visiting family in Burbank for the holidays. Born in Topeka, Kansas August 9, 1945, to William F. Sheahan Jr. and Doris Jean Flynn Sheahan Macferran, Bill attended Most Pure Heart of Mary School and graduated from Topeka High School in 1963. He served in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician from 1965-1969. Bill graduated from Kansas State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, with a degree in architecture in 1972, and from Washburn University School of Law in 1975. Bill and Marsha Martin Sheahan, who grew up across the street from one another, were married May 27,1972, in Topeka and celebrated 53 years of marriage last May. Bill worked for local professional firms from 1970 to 1976 before establishing William Sheahan Associates, a Topeka architectural services firm that planned and designed more than three hundred projects. Notable projects included Fleming Place Shopping Center, the Kansas Corporation Commission, Family Services and Guidance Center, Valeo Behavioral Health, and moving the Menninger Chapel/Carole Chapel to the Washburn campus. He retired in 2019. Sheahan served two terms from 1977 to 1981 as the elected Street Commissioner for the Topeka City Commission. He was a member of the Topeka/Shawnee County Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Topeka Metropolitan Airport Authority, and the Topeka Public Buildings Commission. Bill loved spending time at Lake Perry fishing and having a beer, canoeing in the Ozarks, or traveling to Red River, NM for family vacations. He enjoyed remodeling rental homes, barbequing, woodworking, traveling and creating beautiful, fused glass art pieces. He was a Mulvane Art Fair exhibitor and was a guest instructor for art classes at Mater Dei Elementary School. Bill was preceded in death by his father (1966), his mother (2011), his stepfather W. Sewall Macferran (2015) and his brother Thomas R. Sheahan (2025). He is survived by his wife Marsha and his children Colleen Denise (Scott) Goldblatt and their children Avery and Elizabeth, of Bend, OR; Douglas Martin (Karen) Sheahan and their children Evan and Allyson of Burbank, CA; and Michael William Sheahan of Topeka. He is also survived by his sisters Kathleen (Ted) Clark, Topeka; Barbara (Ron) Hinton, Olympia, WA; Martha (Tom) Cofran, Westminster, CO; and Jennifer (Chris Weekley) Burghart, Topeka; stepbrother Fran Macferran, Palm Springs, CA; and sisters-in-law Janet Sheahan, Montgomery, TX, and Sarah Kay Martin, Tucson, AZ. There also are numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog Dusty. Bill’s Celebration of Life will be Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 11 am at the Kay MacFarland Japanese Gardens at the Topeka Zoo. The family will greet friends one hour prior to service. Burial with military honors will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Topeka Community Foundation, Tunnel to Towers Foundation (2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306), or Helping Hands Humane Society, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka, Kansas 66614. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

William F. Sheahan III

August 9, 1945 - January 13, 2026