Keith Sheppard
January 16th, 1947 - April 21st, 2023
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Keith's Obituary
Keith Sheppard, 76, of St. Joseph, passed away, Friday, April 21, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Fairplain Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Seth Larue officiating. Memorial donations in Keith’s name may be made to Fairplain Presbyterian Church or Caring Circle Hospice. Those wishing to sign Keith’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Keith was born January 16, 1947 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Rigdon “Bill” & Catherine “Kitty” (Stahlhut) Sheppard. His parents operated Sheppard’s Restaurant in Ligonier, and Keith became very close to the family nanny, Alta Purdy. He graduated from Ligonier High School Class of 1965 and from Ball State University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree. During high school in driver’s education class, he met a young lady by the name of Sondra Kay Hare, who became his high school sweetheart, and on June 7, 1969, in Ligonier became Mrs. Keith Sheppard. Keith & Sondra moved to Benton Harbor when Keith gained employment in 1969 with K-Mart Corporation, first on Riverview Dr. and then moving to the Pipestone Rd. location, leaving in 1974. For ten years, Keith worked as dispatch/delivery coordinator for the Herald Palladium before opening his own remodeling/construction company-KAS Remodeling which he operated until his retirement in 2009.
Keith was a member of Fairplain Presbyterian Church where he served on the Board of Elders, volunteered with the building & grounds maintenance and sang in the choir. He was a member of the Delta XI Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. In his free time Keith enjoyed fishing along the St. Joseph River, small game hunting, his weekend retreat at Yogi Bear Camp, traveling across the US with Sondra, and most of all the time spent with his family.
Keith is survived by his wife Sondra; his son William “Bill” (Hope) Sheppard of St. Joseph; five grandchildren-Grace Mc Cuddy, Justin McCuddy, Robert (Cheyenne Rau) Sheppard, Claudia & Isabella Sheppard; three great-grandchildren-Athena Louise Baker, Tyler Jacob McCuddy & Keith William Sheppard; and sisters-Lorene (David) Ballee of Mentor, OH, Leileni Miller of Elkhart, IN, Billie Sheppard of Muncie, IN, Patti Sheppard of Ligonier, IN; sister-in-law Marsha Sheppard of Ft. Wayne, and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ronald Sheppard, his brother-in-law Wes Miller and his nanny, Alta Purdy.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Fairplain Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Seth Larue officiating. Memorial donations in Keith’s name may be made to Fairplain Presbyterian Church or Caring Circle Hospice. Those wishing to sign Keith’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Keith was born January 16, 1947 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Rigdon “Bill” & Catherine “Kitty” (Stahlhut) Sheppard. His parents operated Sheppard’s Restaurant in Ligonier, and Keith became very close to the family nanny, Alta Purdy. He graduated from Ligonier High School Class of 1965 and from Ball State University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree. During high school in driver’s education class, he met a young lady by the name of Sondra Kay Hare, who became his high school sweetheart, and on June 7, 1969, in Ligonier became Mrs. Keith Sheppard. Keith & Sondra moved to Benton Harbor when Keith gained employment in 1969 with K-Mart Corporation, first on Riverview Dr. and then moving to the Pipestone Rd. location, leaving in 1974. For ten years, Keith worked as dispatch/delivery coordinator for the Herald Palladium before opening his own remodeling/construction company-KAS Remodeling which he operated until his retirement in 2009.
Keith was a member of Fairplain Presbyterian Church where he served on the Board of Elders, volunteered with the building & grounds maintenance and sang in the choir. He was a member of the Delta XI Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. In his free time Keith enjoyed fishing along the St. Joseph River, small game hunting, his weekend retreat at Yogi Bear Camp, traveling across the US with Sondra, and most of all the time spent with his family.
Keith is survived by his wife Sondra; his son William “Bill” (Hope) Sheppard of St. Joseph; five grandchildren-Grace Mc Cuddy, Justin McCuddy, Robert (Cheyenne Rau) Sheppard, Claudia & Isabella Sheppard; three great-grandchildren-Athena Louise Baker, Tyler Jacob McCuddy & Keith William Sheppard; and sisters-Lorene (David) Ballee of Mentor, OH, Leileni Miller of Elkhart, IN, Billie Sheppard of Muncie, IN, Patti Sheppard of Ligonier, IN; sister-in-law Marsha Sheppard of Ft. Wayne, and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ronald Sheppard, his brother-in-law Wes Miller and his nanny, Alta Purdy.
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