Sheppard, Kenneth Houston

Kenneth Houston Sheppard, 89, of Manchester, passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, surrounded by his family. He was born Aug. 4, 1924, at home on the family farm in Hazel Green Township near Ryan, the son of Elmer and Ilo (Houston) Sheppard.

On Aug. 4, 1943, Kenneth was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Janann Schweitzer. He served honorably in the U.S. Army from April 13, 1945, until Oct. 28, 1946, stationed in Japan after World War II. Janann passed away Dec. 30, 1967. Kenny married Joan McKeag Brooks on March 19, 1971. Joan passed away May 24, 2011. Kenny farmed his whole adult life on the family farm near Hopkinton until retiring to Manchester in 1982.

Kenny was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and a member of Manchester Masonic Lodge 165. He held many church offices and also served on the Maquoketa Valley REC Board, the Buck Creek school board, and the Federal Land Bank board. Kenny and his wife, Joan, loved to travel, and covered the whole country in their motor home over the course of decades. When behind the wheel headed for adventure, he said he “felt like the king of the road.” Of course, most of all, he treasured the time he spent with his family, and set for them a high standard of love and care.

Survivors include his children, Larry (Peg) Sheppard of Manchester, Susan (Steven) Raab of Philadelphia, Pa., Kathleen (Frank) Kelm of Janesville, Wis., Julie (John Buikema) Boysen of Dallas, Texas, and Steven (Mary) Sheppard of Coggon; also stepchildren, John Brooks of San Jose, Calif., and Betsy Brooks of Golden, Colo., and stepdaughter-in-law, Denise (Randy) Stone of Manchester; 14 grandchildren, Mark Sheppard, Doug Sheppard, Emily Haussman, Nathan Raab, Jonas Raab, Sarah Raab, Stephanie Cobert, Ryan Thole, Angie Boysen, Tyler Boysen, Blake Boysen, Charity Loecke, Tara Blue and Adam Sheppard; two stepgrandchildren, Elizabeth Redman and Rachael Brooks; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Ilo Sheppard; two sisters, Virginia Hosford and Rachel Barrigar; his first wife, Janann; his second wife, Joan; son-in-law, Dennis Thole; and stepsons, Jim Brooks and Tom Brooks.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, by the Rev. Michael Manaugh. Visitation: 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester, with a 3 p.m. Masonic service by Manchester Masonic Lodge 165. Also friends may call one hour before service at the church on Tuesday. Interment, with military rites: Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello.

Published Sept. 1, 2013 in The Gazette