John Paul “Jack” Shepard, of Brevort, Michigan, died November 23, 2024, after fighting cancer with quiet strength for seven months. He was 81.
Jack was born to Roy and Ruth (Merchant) Shepard and grew up on a farm in the Town of Batavia. From an early age, he developed a deep connection to the outdoors, spending his days hunting and fishing in the surrounding woods.
A graduate of Alexander Central High School’s Class of 1961, Jack pursued his love of nature at Michigan State University, earning a degree in forestry. Michigan became his lifelong home, where he built both a career and a family. He worked for several timber companies before founding Shepard’s Forestry Enterprises, Inc. in the 1970s. He ran the business with dedication until his retirement at 70, when his son Michael purchased the business and continues to carry on his work.
Jack’s life was rooted in two things: his family and the simple joys of the outdoors. Whether hunting, fishing, or tending the gardens at his home in Brevort, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he found peace and purpose in nature. His knack for berry picking and gardening meant family and friends were always well-fed with his harvests, and his prolific flower gardens provided vibrant beauty to his home throughout the growing season. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his two sons and grandsons and rarely missed a St. Ignace Saints game, proudly cheering on first his sons and then his six grandchildren from the stands.
Jack shared 35 years with his wife, Thora (Hagen), in a home filled with laughter, love, and an unmistakable sense of belonging. He was lovingly and attentively cared for by Thora and his step-daughter Melissa at home throughout the last days of his life.
Jack is survived by Thora; his sons, Michael (Helena) and Paul (Tammy); his stepchildren, Lee Foster and Melissa (Jason) Salerno; his first wife Nancy Swain Marshall and his grandchildren, Tessa, Tabitha, Tayah, Ethan, and Dylan. He also leaves behind his brother, Robert (Linda), of Batavia; nephews Jonathan (Mary) and Daniel (Joyi) Shepard; and niece Stacey Shepard of Bakersfield, California. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Tucker Joshua Shepard.
A memorial service was held on December 21, 2024, where family and friends came together to honor Jack’s memory and the legacy of a life well-lived.
