BOONE, Iowa—Lester Lee Shepherd, also known as “Les” to many family and friends, age 65, of Boone, passed away on February 22, 2022 at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa due to complications of a stroke.
Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Chapel. Burial will be held at a later date in Linwood Park Cemetery.
Lester was born on October 27, 1956. He was born to Robert Ingle and Ellen Ford-Ficchi. Lester is the oldest of four children.
Lester graduated from high school in Hampton, Iowa in 1975 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1976. Lester was based at Fort Dix in New Jersey. He was honorably discharged.
Lester was married after high school and later divorced. He then was common law married to Beth Liddick in 1999 and then separated 15 years later.
Lester did a lot of construction jobs. His last job was at Fareway Warehouse where he had been employed over 20 years until a work injury caused him to no longer be able to work.
Lester enjoyed playing pool, listening to loud music, getting tattoos and anything that involved Native American Indians, wolves, and eagles.
Lester was preceded in death by his father, Robert; a half-sister, Jamie Jungblet; a grandson, Landon Lee Morgan; several nephews and nieces; as well as aunts and uncles.
He is survived by a half-brother, Dennis (Raquel) Jungblet of Bremerton, Washington; a half-sister, Dedee (Jungblet) (William) Nelson of Washburn, Iowa; and his mother, Ellen (Ford) Ficchi of Shelton, Washington; and several nieces and nephews.
Lester is also survived by his life partner, Beth Liddick; oldest daughter, Shaine Morgan and Joshua Fruth (also son-in-law, James Morgan) and grandson, Alexander Morgan; Les is also survived by his youngest daughter, Shiena Shepherd (son-in-law, Jason Millard) and grandson, Charles and a granddaughter, Distiny Millard; and several adopted daughters.
These are the words of Les’ daughters:
Our dad was the strongest man we knew. He would give you the shirt off his back if he knew it would help someone. He was a very loving and caring person with a huge heart. Our dad took on a huge task by helping our mom raise us which was no easy feat, and we know without a doubt that he loved us and still loved our mom. Without a doubt he was over the moon about his grandkids. Our dad is and forever will be our savior, our hero, our everything. He came into our lives and showed our family more compassion than we ever known. He came into our mother’s life knowing he would be taking on a rambunctious two-year-old and a sassy five-year-old. He did not care; it was nothing to him. He instantly loved us no matter what. He stayed not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He taught us that a dad’s love does not go away when you break a rule or make them mad. That dads are here to teach you how to grow. We got 29 wonderful years with our dad that came with so many memories and stories, but it was not only just us he adopted; he ended up adopting every wayward person we had brought home. They instantly became family.
There is a saying that says:
“Anyone could be a father, but it takes someone truly special to be a DAD.”
We love you more than anything, Daddy. ‘Til we see you again!
Online condolences may be left at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets is in charge of arrangements.
Lester “Les” Shepherd, 65, Boone, Iowa
