Don Howard Shepard

Don Howard Shepard of Elkhart Lake, WI died peacefully on May 31, 2018, at Sharon Richardson Hospice Care. He made a determined effort to live after lung cancer was discovered in the Spring of 2017. Don was born January 30, 1932, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Howard and Erna (Pieper) Shepard.

Don attended school in his hometown, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. In 1959, he received a Bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and received his Master’s degree in 1962 from Northern Colorado University. He did extended post graduate work in 1972 at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee.   Don served in the Army for two years and earned the rank of corporal.

Don spent his career as a high school teacher of Western Civilization and Anthropology in Mayville and North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in Burlington, Iowa and at Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He also taught at Iowa Community College in Mason City, Iowa.

He was united in marriage to Barbara Gould on August 10, 1957, in the Methodist Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife and his three children; Christopher (Anne) Shepard of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and Sedona, Arizona; Alexandra (Masoud) Kermani of Louisville, Colorado; and Sarah (Bert) Gross of Fair Oaks, California.

Don was fond of his seven grandchildren, Emma and Kyle Shepard, Sassan and Mitra Kermani, and Rachel, Anna and Caroline Gross. He liked to lecture them about ancient history when they came to visit.

Don lived for the opportunity to play drums with various bands throughout the Midwest, one of his favorites being the Dorf Kapelle. Among the many others he played with include Babe Wagner, Six Fat Dutchman, Adolph Lesser, Ray Dorschner, Don Peachey, Karl Hartwich and Dick Rodgers. He would travel at a moment’s notice to play with his longtime friends. He was so proud of his Gretsch drums and his Zildjian cymbals, he even carried them to Austria and Czech Republic for concerts.

He was a lifelong Cubs and Packer fan and enjoyed the annual Packer shareholders meeting.

A memorial service will be held for Don on June 24, 2018, at 3 p.m. at Randolph Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Randolph Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Laack’s Hall, downtown Johnsonville on June 25, 2018, 3-6 p.m.

The family thanks the staff at Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Sheboygan and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for the kindness shown to Don. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to both facilities.