Larry Shepard Obituary

Larry  Shepard
Larry Shepard
Larry Shepard

October 7, 1936 - May 2, 2025
Born in Des Moines, IA
Resided in Johnston, IA
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Obituary

Laurence Fred Shepard, known to many as Larry or “Shep,” passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025. Born Oct.7, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Fred and Madeline Shepard, Larry lived a life marked by deep love for family, commitment to his community, and a joyful appreciation for fun and relaxation. Following graduation from North High School in Des Moines, Larry attended Iowa State University and served in the U.S. Army. He completed his degree at Drake University, where he met the love of his life, Norma Nighswonger. They married on May 26, 1962, and in 2012, marked their 50th wedding anniversary with a dream visit to the Masters Tournament and a family trip to the Bahamas.

Larry and Norma opened Shepard Carpet and Furniture in Madrid, Iowa, in 1962. The store—later known as Shepard Home Furnishings—became a staple in the community and served customers for 37 years. Retirement brought winters in sunny golf destinations—starting with short trips to Arizona and eventually extended stays in Palm Springs, California, and Mission, Texas. Larry and Norma golfed more than 100 rounds together in 2020 during the pandemic. Larry was especially proud of his seven career holes-in-one, the last of which he achieved in 2016 at the Woodward Golf Club.

Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting, dancing at Lake Robbins on New Year’s Eve with Norma, and cooking up a good meal—whether it was on the grill or his famous buttermilk pancakes. He and Norma were part of a close-knit Bridge Club with three other couples—lifelong friends who, over the years, set aside the game and simply enjoyed one another’s company. He was a dedicated supporter of Madrid High School football, Iowa State and Drake sports, and could often be found shooting the breeze over coffee with his Madrid buddies.

A proud member of the Lions Club, Larry gave back to his community through many years of service, including helping with the annual Labor Day chicken barbecue. He was also a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.

Larry is survived by his wife, Norma; daughters Tracy (Ken) Smalley and Julie (Jeremy) McCarty; grandchildren Erin (Josh) Prock, Laura (Isaac) Emery, and Andrew (and his girlfriend, Alicia); great-grandson Mason Shepard Prock; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Nina and Paul Havens; niece Heather (Chris) Carr; and nephews Brian (Sandy) Havens and Mike Murphy. He was preceded in death by his son, Craig Laurence; his parents; and his sister, Jackie Murphy.

Later in life, Larry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He worked tirelessly to stay active and do all he could to manage the disease. The family encourages everyone to join the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, a landmark study aimed at learning more about how brain disease starts, changes, and how to stop it. Join the study at michaeljfox.org/ppmi.

Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. on May 8, 2025, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Madrid, Iowa, followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m. at the same location. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Madrid (facebook.com/StPaulsUCCMadridIA/), Giving Back Outdoors (givingbackoutdoors.org), or the American Parkinson Disease Association - Iowa Chapter (apdaparkinson.org/community/iowa/).

ILES-SUNBERG-KIRKPATRICK CHAPEL

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Services

Visitation
St. Paul's United Church of Christ
115 S. Cedar Street
Madrid, IA US 50156
Thursday, May 8, 2025
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Service
St. Paul's United Church of Christ
115 S. Cedar Street
Madrid, IA US 50156
Thursday, May 8, 2025
10:30 AM