Roger H. Shepherd, 92, was reunited with Jesus and the love of his life Louanna on March 26, 2024 in St. Joseph. Born October 6, 1931, in St. Joseph, Roger was the son of the late Herman and May Shepherd.
A great athlete, Roger ran track in school and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation Roger found his love of the game of fast pitch softball. Teams he played with included: Woodson Chapel, The Goetz Juniors, RCA Team, St. Joe Booster’s (state champions in 1962), The Morris Plan (state champions in 1963) and Walnut Products which he played with until his retirement as a player in 1970. He once hit three home runs in one game of the state tournament. He was inducted into the Saint Joe Hall of Fame in 1992 as a player and official. He was also inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for fast pitch softball in 1994. He played softball in 19 states, 7 regionals, one national tournament, and for the Army in Germany. During and after his playing days, Roger also officiated high school and small college softball and football. The Missouri State High School Activities Association honored him with special recognition for 25 years of officiating.
The game of softball also led him to his greatest love, Louanna Moore, who was a spectator at one of his games in Gower in 1954. Within weeks, Roger was headed to Army basic training at Ft. Lee with Louanna and they were married November 13, 1954 in Petersburg, Va. Soon after they shipped off to Germany for their first two years of marriage. Upon their return to St. Joseph in 1956, Roger joined the Missouri Air National Guard where he would serve until 1991. He retired from the Air Guard with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant after 40 years and five months of combined military service.
After his work retirement, Roger took up golf with the same passion he had for other sports. After Louanna’s death, Roger found refuge and friendship on the Duncan Hills golf course in Savannah. He made three holes-in-one, with his last one coming July 25, 2023 at the age of 91.
Roger was a longtime member of Brookdale Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include: three sons, Stephen Shepherd, and wife, Nancy; Mark Shepherd, and wife, Suzanne; and Brian Shepherd, and wife, Kerry; and daughter Karen Sybert and husband, Curtis; grandchildren, Matthew Shepherd; Jennifer Brown and husband, Aaron, Chelsea Rohr and husband Tyler; Natalie Wilhite; Ciara Beil and husband Andrew, Tiffany Arnold and husband Casey; Nick Wilhite; Nate Stapleton and wife Sarah; Casey Shepherd and Leo Shepherd; his great grandchildren: Averi, Maddie, Noah, Parker, Amelia, Mack, Oliver, Bode and Charlotte, numerous nieces and special friends Jerry Acord, Esther Correll, Lloyd Duke and Connie Fankhauser.
He was predeceased by his wife Louanna (Moore) in 2007; brother Glenn Shepherd (Kate); sisters-in-law, Helen Kieser (Leonard) and Betty Albee (Dave).
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family suggest memorial contributions to Brookdale Presbyterian Church. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
