February 13, 1956 – September 25, 1998
David Leo Sheets was born February 13, 1956 in North Platte, Nebraska to Don and Joyce Sheets. He passed away September 25, 1998. Dave had two brothers, Jim (Cheryl) Sheets of Mullen, Nebraska, and John (Lisa) Sheets of Arcadia, Nebraska. He also had three sisters Marcia (Russ) Tiffany of Burwell, Nebraska, Pat (Rob) Burnham of Burwell, Nebraska, and Tammi Hendricksen of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Dave was an active member of the Burwell FFA chapter showing cattle and holding offices. He graduated from Burwell Jr./Sr. High School in 1974. He also graduated from Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming in 1976. On August 15, 1981 he married Georgeann Darden and had three boys, Tucker, Coy, and Trey Sheets.
Tucker and his Wife Melissa have a little boy named David (Named after Dave Sheets) and Lydia was born in 2019, they live in Hyannis, Nebraska. They own and operate their own business Cowboy Welding LLC in Hyannis. Coy and his wife Mikaela have three children, Avery, Elsie, and Lyle, they live in Miles City, Montana. Coy is a leatherman making saddles on the side and works for the Law Enforcement in Miles City. Trey is currently living in Texas for the winter and resides in Cheyenne for the summer. He trains steer roping horses and competes in steer roping and team roping in the PRCA.
Dave Sheets was a very successful saddle bronc rider. He qualified for the National Little Britches finals in steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding in 1972. Dave competed twice at the National High School Rodeo Finals. He was a two time Intercollegiate Regional Champion, and a two time Nebraska State Rodeo Association Champion. Dave had his pro card for several years, and often talked about how amazing Rodeo Houston was. He also competed in numerous ranch rodeos. Dave enjoyed ranching and training horses. He worked many years for Jack Lowe, Joe Minor, and the Henderson Ranches in Hyannis, Nebraska. He was well known for being Tom Whiplinger’s picking up man at High School and Nebraska State Rodeos. Before his death he had his own fencing business. In conjunction with the Grant County Fair and Rodeo there is a Dave Sheets Memorial Ranch Rodeo every year.