Robert Sheppard

Robert “Bob” Sheppard passed away peacefully March 16, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brained. He was born to Frank Sr. and Stella Sheppard on April 17, 1938.

Bob wore many hats in his lifetime. As a child he grew up in McKinley township, his parents operated a neighborhood gas station, and he grew to know his neighbors through the family business. After Bob graduated from Backus High School in 1956, he joined the Coast Guard, it allowed him to see a lot more than his little corner of the world, and we know he enjoyed his 6 years of service there. He served as a Fire Technician on the US Coast Guard Cutter Ingham, which is currently afloat in Key West Florida as a museum. He was discharged after 6 years in 1964.

Bob married the neighbor's daughter, Ila Sheppard, in 1960 and they started a family, moving into a little pink house on the outskirts of Pine River. They moved several times in his life. The family lived on Lake Ada for a while, then back to Pine River, also Breezy Point and The Villages in Florida. He and Ila finally moved back home to Pine River for the sunset of their lives.

Bob and Ila had 3 children: Robin, Kevin, then Shari a few years later. He was a good husband and father for his family and worked hard to provide them a good life. He taught his kids to be good people, and their lives are successful because of him.

Bob bought the Texaco station in Pine River in the early 60's and operated that until it became the Spur station. Spur shut down all their stations so that ended that. When the Holiday station was built in Pine River, Bob was chosen to be the first manager, and along with that, he and his wife, Ila, owned and operated the Montgomery Wards catalog agency in the Shopping Block in Pine River. Later he sold cars at Osterloh's in Pine River, winning awards for top sales because of his friendly and honest personality.

Bob enjoyed many hobbies. Among many others, he liked woodworking, something he learned from his own dad, hunting and fishing, and photography. But what he really enjoyed was golf and after his retirement he loved mowing the fairways at Deacon's Lodge in Breezy Point. Bob was the Commander at the Legion in Pine River for a while, also a volunteer firefighter for the city of Pine River. There are probably many more friends he made and experiences he had that we don't even know about.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Stella Sheppard, and his brother Frank, Jr.  He is survived by his dedicated wife, Ila; daughters, Robin Lyon, Shari LaVigne (Gary); son, Kevin (Jennifer); 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, one of which he was looking forward to meeting.

Services for Bob will be 11 AM on Friday March 24 at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.  Visitation will be one hour before. In lieu of flowers please donate to Legion.org for the American Legion.