Shawn Mcneely

Shawn Kirkpatrick McNeely, 41, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at his home.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf, Iowa, with visitation occurring from 4:00 p.m. until time of service.  The service will be livestreamed by visiting Shawn’s page at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com and clicking on the link at the bottom of the page by 7:00 p.m. on October 28. In lieu of flowers, memorials gifts may be made to a fund for the education of Shawn’s sons. Go to Facebook under Carol Senseman McNeely or send to the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, c/o McNeely Education Fund, 2839 AAA Ct., Bettendorf, IA 52722.  The family requests that all attending the visitation and funeral service wear a mask.

Shawn was born on October 9, 1980, in Downers Grove, Illinois, the son of the Rev. Bruce and Carol (Senseman) McNeely. A 1999 graduate of Bettendorf High School, Shawn excelled in the marching band and drumline, playing the snare drum, and traveling with the award-winning drumline to competitions across Iowa and Illinois.  While still in high school, Shawn began working at the Village Inn on State Street, bussing tables. He quickly mastered all aspects of the restaurant business and became one of the youngest general managers in the entire Village Inn system when he became GM at the Coralville, Iowa, location at the age of 22. He also served as the GM at several locations in the Quad Cities. Shawn’s employees at Village Inn loved him because he would never ask them to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself. His customers loved the warmth of his personality and his sense of humor. Shawn even showed his creative culinary touch at Village Inn by adding pork tenderloins and pecan-pumpkin pie to the menu even if corporate didn’t like it!

Shawn was an incredibly-talented individual who could do anything he set his mind to do.  He never even entertained the idea that he couldn’t do something he wanted to do. He taught himself how to play the drums, carpentry, drawing, landscaping, and cooking. His determination and inner drive led him to start his own home repair, improvement, and landscaping business, Stix Fix-It-All. Always the perfectionist, Shawn’s customers appreciated his attention to detail and the quality of his custom work.

Throughout all his adult years, Shawn continued to play the drums in several local bands: ZED, Cesspool America, Mannequin Molesters, Stand Down, The Bare-Knuckle Brawlers, Fear & Trembling, Pusser, Tong Po, and Road Soda. An outstanding musician, he played his drum set with a passion and intensity that endeared him to his bandmates and audiences alike.

Those who knew Shawn knew him to be both a daredevil and a rebel with a mischievous sense of humor. He had no tolerance for racism or judgmental attitudes especially from pompous, self-serving politicians who had no real interest in seeking the common good.

Shawn loved his family so much. He had a special connection with his mother because they shared similar personalities and he followed in her footsteps as a percussionist. He always loved to tease his father about his bad jokes. There was plenty of sibling rivalry with his brothers as he was growing up but as adults the brothers came to have a deep admiration and respect for one another.

Shawn became a father at an early age. He didn’t think twice about working hard to provide for his son and for the rest of his family as they came along. Shawn showed up late for his first date with Karen, but they quickly fell in love and were married at the Tabor Home Winery in Baldwin, Iowa, on July 5, 2003. Shawn and Karen were true soul mates and also best friends through good times as well as difficult times.  Karen always loved how Shawn used to sing loudly their favorite songs to her regardless of who was around.

Shawn loved doing things with his sons, teaching them his many skills and traveling with them and Karen to his favorite place, the beach.  Shawn’s travels with Karen and the boys took them to the beaches of the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cancun, South Padre Island, Hilton Head, and Gulf Shores.

Those left to honor Shawn’s memory include his wife of 18 years, Karen, of Bettendorf, sons Gavin, Kian, and Brennen, all of Bettendorf, parents Bruce and Carol McNeely of Bettendorf, brothers Andrew (Natasha) McNeely of McAllen, TX, and Josh (Cheryl) McNeely of Bettendorf, and nieces Evie and Maddie McNeely of McAllen, TX, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends all over the country. He was a loving husband, father, son, and brother who cared deeply for his family.

Shawn was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, J.B. and Louise McNeely, his maternal grandparents Hugh and Harriet Senseman, his uncle, John McNeely, his aunt, Janis Watson, and two cousins, Austin Owens and David Watson.