John A. Shepard

John A. "Jack" Shepard, 72, of Delphipassed away unexpect- edly Feb. 25, 2008, at 10:40 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lafayette.

He was born Feb. 17, 1936, in Carroll County, to John W. and Helen Lathrope Shepard. His marriage was to Doris L. Houser in Delphi on June 24, 1960, and she survives.

Mr. Shepard was a 1954 graduate of Delphi High School. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served four years on a ship in the Pacific.

He worked for Eli Lilly Company in Lafayette for 25 years, most recently in the receiving warehouse, retiring in 1994.

He and his wife lived for 10 years in Sebastian, Fla., before they moved back to Delphi in 2004.

Mr. Shepard was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Delphi and a lifetime member of Delphi VFW Post #9383. He was an avid fisherman who enjoyed his boat, camping, mushroom hunting and crossword puzzles.

Surviving are his wife in Delphi; two sons, Mitchell W. Shepard and Kevin J. Shepard, both of West Lafayette; and three grandsons, Justin, Matthew and Chris Shepard.

Mr. Shepard was preceded in death by a son, Bradley J. Shepard, and a sister, Barbara.

Friends may call Friday from 11 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. at Abbott Funeral Home in Delphi. Father Peter Vanderkolk will officiate. Burial with Delphi American Legion and VFW military rites will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens in West Lafayette.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart/Stroke Association. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to abbottfuneralhome@ verizon.net.