Ethel Marie (Krueger) Shepard

Ethel Marie Shepard (née Krueger) passed over peacefully in the early morning hours of January 4, 2018. Born to Rose and Carl Krueger on July 23, 1918, on a farm just outside of LaPorte, Indiana, Ethel was 99 years old. She was the sixth of seven children. Ethel went to school in a two-room school house that was two miles from her farm home, if she took shortcuts through the fields. When she was twelve years old, her family moved into town, where they enjoyed electric lights and running water. During the depression, while attending LaPorte High School, Ethel worked at a dime store on Saturdays. After graduating, Ethel worked at a flower shop, a theatre, a garage office and a bank. As a girl, she took dance lessons, played tennis, swam and painted. She married her husband for life, Harold Shepard, on December 28, 1944, after Harold returned from his service as a decorated Marine in World War II. Ethel and Harold had two children, Steven Lee and Susan Marie, both of whom survive her. In 1977, Ethel and Harold moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be closer to their children, who had earlier located there, and to their granddaughter, Andrea Marie. As Ethel aged, she continued to be active in her church, Church of the Good Shepherd, and enjoyed traveling, dancing and golf with dear friends.

Ethel is predeceased by her parents; Harold; her siblings (Leo, Stella, Edla, Pearl, Forrest, and Robert); and her beloved Andrea. In addition to Steven and Susan, she is survived by her son-in-law, Mark, whom she treated as one of her own, and three generations of nieces and nephews, whom she loved with all her heart. Words cannot describe what a blessing this kind, gentle, courageous, strong and loving woman was to all who knew her and especially to her children and the rest of her family.

Services will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 11:30 a.m., at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum Chapel, 7999 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Friends and family may visit beginning at 11:00 a.m.