Jim Shepperd, 90

James Julian Shepperd, 90, of Hayden, Idaho, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home Feb. 21, 2017. He was born July 29, 1926, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Warren T. and Mildred B. (Dodge) Shepperd.

Jim grew up in Coeur d’Alene, and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1944. He enlisted right away and went to boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, before becoming a Carpenters Mate in the Navy. He was a proud World War II veteran, and became a lifetime member of the VFW after his discharge. He married Janice Marie (Stoddard) Shepperd on Oct. 29, 1948, at First United Presbyterian Church, and began working at Stoddard Transfer that same year. He also worked at Sonnichsen’s Insurance for a number of years, but his heart was always with the men and women that have served our country in the military, so he became the Veteran’s Job Service Consultant at the Idaho Department of Employment, until his retirement.

Jim also enjoyed contributing his time and talents to the VFW, serving in various positions including State Commander. He participated in the VFW color guard at many Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day ceremonies and proudly marched in dozens of parades. In his spare time, he restored antique cars and drove his 1929 Model A Ford pickup truck in many Fourth of July parades. However what Jim really excelled at was being a storyteller. Everyone that knew him was entertained by his tales whether they were true stories of his war experiences or slightly tall tales about almost everything else. We all know that Father Cataldo was his high school football coach; that he always patronized Ollie Olsen’s Chinese Laundry; and every March 17 he would show off the shillelagh that had been blessed by St. Patrick himself.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Janice, in 2006; and his daughter, Linda Marie (Shepperd) Schmidt in 2016. He is survived by his son, James Michael Shepperd and daughter-in-law Robin Shepperd of Edmonds, Wash.; his son-in-law, Ron Schmidt of Rathdrum, Idaho; four grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will beheld at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene, with a reception following at the church. Burial with military rites will follow the reception at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene at 1 p.m. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene, is in care of the arrangements.

The family prefers memorial donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation at http://www.vfwfoundation.org/.

You may visit Jim’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.