John Howard Sharkey, 77, died on Monday, April 30, 2018.

He was born on Aug. 27, 1940, in Clarkfield, MN to Howard and Evelyn Sharkey. John grew up in Windom, MN and graduated from Windom High School in 1958, where he was an accomplished wrestler.

John married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Ilene Sharkey (Stevens) on Dec. 17, 1961. John graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business from St. Olaf College where he participated in wrestling throughout his college career.

After John and Ilene were married, they managed motels in Kansas and in South Dakota. John founded B&H Modular Distributors which built modular motels and homes. He built many Super 8 motels in South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, and New Mexico.

John and Ilene raised two sons together, Howard and Brent Sharkey. In 1993, John and his son Brent founded B&H Asphalt. Although he retired from the company in 2014, his son Brent still consulted with him on an almost daily basis about business operations.

John thoroughly enjoyed bowling, hunting, wrestling, and watching his grandkids play sports. John knew no greater love than that of his family and always put them first. He spent every holiday and family birthday in their company. Not only was his own family important to him, but his bowling and wrestling families were as well. One of the things he looked forward to most was the annual pheasant hunting trip with his sons and grandsons.

John had a love of flying and earned his pilot's license and he dearly loved his Cessna 210. John was the co-founder of the Westside Wrestling Club and he had a profound love of coaching Rapid City youth in both bowling and wrestling and he instilled a love of both sports into his children and grandchildren. John was inducted into both the local and state bowling Halls of Fame for his numerous accomplishments and contributions.

John is survived by the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Ilene Sharkey; his children Howard Sharkey, Brent (Cammy) Sharkey; and three grandchildren, Taylor Rave, Danny Sharkey and Brandon Sharkey, one great-grandchild, Auburn; his nephew, Dan (Lisa) Ferguson; and his nieces, Lisa (Greg) Brandis, and Kathy (Steve) Venteicher; along with countless members of John's hunting, bowling and wrestling extended families. John was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Rosanne.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Calvary Lutheran Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at the church with Pastor David Piper officiating. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be directed to either the Westside Raider Wrestling Club or the Rapid City United States Bowling Congress, which support local youth. Donations may be mailed to 4528 S. Canyon Rd. Rapid City, SD 57702.