By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

HAYDEN — Jim Shepperd lit up the room with his storytelling, but the joke always seemed to be on him.

That’s the way he liked it.

"He didn't make fun of people," Gary Legard said of his fellow veteran. "He made fun of himself."

Shepperd, whose name was synonymous with Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Fourth of July parades in Coeur d'Alene, died in his sleep on Tuesday. He was 90.

James Shepperd Jr., Shepperd's son, said his father's storytelling had many — himself included — believing the tales.

"I grew up thinking that Father Cataldo, who lived in the 1800s, was his high school football coach," James said with a laugh. "I brought that up in class, and I think I got a D in Idaho history in the fourth grade because of what he said."

For many years, Shepperd, a World War II Navy veteran and a staunch supporter of Veterans of Foreign War Post 889, laid a wreath into Lake Coeur d'Alene at the Third Street docks on Memorial Day in honor of service members lost at sea.

"Jim would always say that he got up at 4 a.m. and stole the flowers from his neighbor's bushes to make the wreath," Legard said.

On Veterans Day, Shepperd used a sledgehammer to ring the Third Street Bell. He drove his 1929 Model A Ford pickup in several Fourth of July parades.

Shepperd, who graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1944, went to boot camp at Farragut.

Legard said as soon as Shepperd returned from World War II he wanted to join the VFW, but he wasn't allowed to because you had to be 21.

"So he joined as soon as he was 21," Legard said.

Shepperd was one of the longest surviving members — if not the longest — of the VFW in Coeur d'Alene with nearly 70 years of service.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who has been a member much longer than Jim," Legard said.

Shepperd served as commander of the Post 889. He was also the VFW's Department of Idaho commander in 1976.

"When I last saw him about a week ago he could hardly wait for the annual VFW dinner on Saturday night, but unfortunately he didn't make it," Legard said. "He has friends all over the state. Jim was considered a friend of everybody's. Even until recently, he was still the voice of the VFW for a lot of people."

Shepperd assisted with placing flags on veterans' headstones at Forest Cemetery on Memorial Day and, when some were missed, he'd be the one called upon to head back out, Legard said.

Shepperd worked at the Department of Labor finding work for veterans.

"He was really concerned about the veterans," his son said.

Robert Shoeman holds that position now at the Department of Labor.

"When he heard that I was hired, he came to the office to welcome me, and offered some advice," Shoeman said. “Do your best with every situation, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Realize that you can’t solve everyone’s problems. Concentrate on what you can do, and you’ll make a positive difference.”

James said his parents had a lot of friends when he was growing up and his home was always one of warmth, games and laughter.

"He was a stern but fair father," James said.

Shepperd was a regular around the VFW post until his death.

"He had to quit coming to the meetings because he was having trouble driving at night, but he'd still be there almost every Tuesday for coffee," Legard said. "He'll really be missed."