David L. Shepard

David L. Shepard, 70, passed away on January 29, 2019, at home in Arvada, Colorado. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan to Donald A. Shepard and Gladys I. (Riley) Shepard on February 14, 1948, at Leila Hospital. He attended Battle Creek Central High School and went on to get two bachelor's and a master's degree from Michigan State University. He married Sandra Marie Schmitzer in 1968 and welcomed three children – Andrew (1971) and the twins, Emily & Abigail (1973). David was a dedicated junior high and high school teacher, debate coach and theater director throughout his career. He loved to fish and garden in his free time and was always up for a trip to Central City or a drive into the mountains.

He spent years moving from Michigan to Colorado and back to Michigan. Once his first grandchild, Aaron, was born in 2004 he moved to Colorado to stay. Over the years he saw the arrival of three more grandchildren: Brooke (2005), Logan (2006) and Katie (2009). The last year brought many great memories starting with a celebratory birthday cruise to Cabo last February for his 70th birthday, the marriage of his son Andrew to Jodi Steward in May 2018, time with the grandkids over the summer and a trip to Estes Park last fall. There was even an un-anniversary celebration dinner on what would have been David & Sandra's 50th wedding anniversary in December. The whole family spent the holidays together telling stories and playing cards.

He is survived by his three children, four grand-children, his cat, Socks, Sandra, his sister Becky (Shepard) Turner, a niece Sarah and two nephews, Ben and Marcus, extended family and many good friends. A celebration of David's life will happen on July 27, 2019 in his birth town of Battle Creek, Michigan.

A memorial service to celebrate David's life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 27, 2019 at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. A reception will immediately follow at the St. Philip Catholic Church Parish Center, 112 Captial Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. Final interment will then be held at 3:00 p.m. at Assyria Cemetery, Highway M-66, Bellevue, MI. From Bellevue, take Highway M-78 west about two miles, turn right or northeast onto Jones Road and continue about 3.5 miles. Turn right or north onto Hwy 66 for less than one mile. Cemetery will be on the east or right side.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in David's name to either the Alzheimer's Association https://alz.org/ or the American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.