Richard Lee Shepherd, 77, of Ottumwa, died at 5:00 a.m. May 15, 2025 at his home.
He was born at home on March 26, 1948 in Ottumwa to Harry and Lucille Butler Shepherd. He married Mary Kay Webb from Sigourney October 17, 1970.
Richard attended country school in Bunch as well as schools in Bloomfield and Ottumwa, graduating in 1966 from Fremont High School. He attended Lincoln Tech in Des Moines before being drafted into the US Army in 1968, serving for 2 years. He had worked at the DX Station in Fremont, the Hedrick-Y truck stop, Clow, Snyder Feed and 3 ½ years for Goodyear Tire with his 2 brothers. Richard worked for Iowa Power/Midwest Power and over 30 years for MidAmerican Energy, retiring as a lineman on October 2, 2006.
Richard was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He loved spending time on his 14 acres between Eddyville and Kirkville with his family where he enjoyed shooting guns, fishing, trapshooting and riding motorcycles and 4-wheelers. He also enjoyed working on small engines, tractors and old cars and loved passing along his interests to his grandchildren.
Surviving is his wife, Mary Kay; their children, Vicki (Jeff) Nace of Lovilia, Bob (Rena) Shepherd of Eddyville and Lisa (Jason) Bell of Bloomfield; 6 grandchildren, Brett Nace, Jacob (fiancé, Madison Guffey) Shepherd, Tyler (fiancé, Hannah Jerkins) Shepherd, Owen (fiancé, Julia Hill) Bell, Ethan Bell and Brooklyn Bell; and sister, Mary Ann (Dennis) Goodwin of Fremont; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Kenneth Shepherd and Larry Shepherd; and sister, Ann Downing.
Visitation will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 18th at Reece Funeral Home with a Rosary and Christian Wake Service at 2:30 p.m. followed by a time for the family to greet friends until 5 p.m. Sunday.
Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, May 19th at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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