SHERIDAN - Catholic Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Church at 10 a.m. today, May 11, for James Michael Lannan, 78. The Rev. Ronald Stolcis will officiate. Holy rosary was recited last evening.

Following interment in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery, a dinner will be held at Holy Name Parish Center.

He died in his sleep May 6, 2005, after a long illness.

A native of Sheridan, he owned and operated Lannan's Paint and Decorating Center for 15 years after purchasing the business at the age of 50. This followed his careers as a mail carrier, insurance agent, buyer and seller of scrap metal and animal hides at B. Gross and Co., and as a business partner at the Sheridan Appliance Store.

During World War II, he volunteered for paratrooper training in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Three years after discharge, he proposed to Treva Virginia Shields. The couple remained together for 57 years.

The couple moved to Chicago, where he attended Loyola University, but they returned in less than a year to Sheridan to raise their growing family. His deployment overseas as a reservist during the Korean War ended in an honorable discharge.

Family and faith were guiding themes in his life. Meal times in his large family were lively events.

He enjoyed reading, fishing, music and news of sports, finances and the world.

An active member of Holy Name Catholic Church, he volunteered as a greeter for Sunday morning mass and spent many hours in Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist. He served as grand knight in the Knights of Columbus and as scoutmaster in Holy Name's Troop 109 while his sons were of Scouting age.

After his retirement in 1991, the couple traveled extensively to visit their children's families in the United States and took a trip to Ireland to explore the territory where the family name is rooted.

Survivors include his wife, Treva V. Lannan of Sheridan; brothers John C. Lannan of Portland and William J. Lannan of Helena; his sister, Mary Agnes Swarthout of Hazelwood, Mo.; 12 children, James, John and Zachary Lannan, Teresa "Teri" Haley and Mary Barbula, all of Sheridan, Tom Lannan of Wasilla, Alaska, Virginia "Gini" Olson and David Lannan, both of Tempe, Michael Lannan of Fort Worth, Joseph Lannan of Blair, Neb., Jeffery Lannan of San Diego and Gregory Lannan of Encino, Calif.; 25 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

One grandson, David Barbula, preceded him in death.

Memorials include Holy Name Catholic Church and Sheridan County Fulmer Library.