Funeral services and Mass of Christian burial for Patrick E. Shepard, 78, a resident of Bettendorf will be noon Saturday, July 11, 2009 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 4097 18th St., Bettendorf.
Following Pat’s wish, cremation rites will be accorded after the funeral Mass. Private family burial will take place at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Visitation will be Friday at St. John Vianney Church beginning at 4 p.m. with a prayer service and will continue until 7 p.m. There will be additional visitation Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Shepard died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at his home in Bettendorf.
Patrick E. Shepard was born May 7, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wis. to Louise (Lyons) Shepard. Pat attended schools in Milwaukee and in Rhinelander, Wis. He served his country in the Air Force, stationed atop Mount Tamalpais, near San Francisco, Calif.
While working at Line Material in Milwaukee, he met Geraldine Fintak. They were married January 10, 1959 recently celebrating their golden anniversary.
Mr. Shepard worked as a NuTone salesman for many years, starting in West Allis, Wis. and transferring to Bettendorf in 1969. After retirement he and Geri became “snowbirds” wintering in Mesa, Ariz.
Pat was a charter member of St. John Vianney Parish where he was an usher, Eucharistic minister and a member of Forever Young. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Aside from his family, his passion was golf. He was thrilled to have made a hole-in-one in Mesa, and then was fortunate enough to have recorded two additional holes-in one during his golfing career! When he wasn’t golfing or bowling he was playing the organ. He was a masterful storyteller, enjoyed reciting favorite poems and had a good supply of jokes to tell. He was always the life of the party!
Memorials can be made to St. John Vianney Catholic Church or to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Genesis East Medical Center.
Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years, Geri; a son, Kevin (Kathy) Shepard, Davenport; daughters, Karen DeMello, Mountain View, Calif.; Patricia (Joe) Voellinger, Minocqua, Wis.; Kate (Bart) Bycroft, Salina, Kan.; grandchildren, Luke, Logan and Danielle Voellinger, Jonathan and Alex Bycroft, Michael and Nick Shepard, and Michelle and David Mampre.
His parents and a brother, Robert, preceded him in death.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Pat’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
