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Marty Lee Shepard, age 60, of Blair, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. He was driving home from a family picnic with his wife when he died suddenly from a heart attack.

Marty was born at a midwife’s house in Pisgah, Iowa, on April 29, 1962. He was raised by his grandparents Dwayne Wilbur and Violet Gwendolyn (Bell) Shepard on a farm near Magnolia, Iowa. He graduated from Logan-Magnolia High School in 1981. After high school, he spent several years working as a carpenter and roofer. His son Patrick Narin was born in 1982.

Marty married Polly Anna Barker on Jan. 16, 1987; their marriage produced two children: Teri Ann in 1986 and Cari Lyn in 1987. In 1992, Marty bought his first dump truck and started his own business, Shepard Enterprises, which he owned and operated for thirty years.

Marty was committed to living life to the fullest. He often traveled as a professional shuffleboard player. He loved fishing with friends and family in Niobrara, riding his motorcycle through the countryside, and visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota. Most of all, he loved sharing his passion for life with his family.

Marty was a pillar of the community. He served as a city councilman for Ward 4 of Blair, Nebraska for nearly 20 years. He sponsored youth sports and Halloween at the Fire Department annually. Marty supported Pheasants Forever, Cattleman’s, ABATE, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts with generous donations.

Marty was preceded in death by his parents Dwayne and Violet Shepard, siblings Dallas Shepard and Lois Hall.

Marty is survived by his wife of 35 years Polly of Blair; son Patrick and wife Regina of Omaha, daughter Teri and wife Angela of Blair, daughter Cari and husband Michael of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Chaeli, Sofia, Lilian, Edynn, Dexter, Emily, Xander, and Abigail; siblings Lillian, Lorene, Elwin, Erwin, Lloyd, and Leo; biological father Stuart; half-sisters Kathy, Teresa, and Wende; dozens of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Visitation will be at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral will be at Marty’s Shop (660 Grant Street) in Blair, on Monday, Sept. 12 starting at 10:30 a.m. with interment at the Blair Cemetery. Services Monday will be live-streamed.

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you will make a donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Marty’s honor.

#2-Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Enterprise Media Group

By Greg Forbes - editor@enterprisepub.com

A small-town Iowa native who built his business from the ground up, Marty Shepard was the perfect choice to represent the people of Blair.

“Marty was THE representative for the common people of Blair,” Rich Hansen, Blair Mayor, said of the late Ward 4 Blair Councilman. “He was not the least bit pretentious, he always asked good questions and sometimes he'd even vote 'no' because he thought someone needed to.”

Shepard, 60, died Sept. 4 from a heart attack while returning from a family picnic.

Shepard, a Pisgah, Iowa, native, founded, owned and operated Shepard Enterprises for 30 years while serving on the Blair City Council's Ward 4, as well as volunteering with youth sports, the Blair Volunteer Fire Department, Pheasants Forever, Washington County Cattlemen, ABATE, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Shepard was first elected to the Blair City Council in 2008 to represent Ward 4. Hansen, who was elected in 2018, didn't know Shepard well at first but soon saw a man dedicated to Blair and its people.

“It's extremely important to have a man of Marty's honesty and stature on the council,” the Blair mayor said. “Marty didn't pull any punches and he wasn't just sitting in that seat running for reelections.”

On Shepard's tenacity on the council, fellow councilman Jon Stewart said Shepard was one to vote on an issue no matter what.

“He wasn't afraid to speak his mind and I appreciate that,” Stewart said. “He was not an 'abstain' type of person. He always had a position.”

Blair City Administrator Rod Storm said Shepard's desire to ask questions and consider all details was what made him an asset to the council and to the citizens he represented.

“Marty worked hard to represent the Citizens of Blair and particularly the constituents of ward 4,” Storm said. “He was always willing to listen and ask the hard questions.”

Shepard's dedication to community extended beyond service on the council. Every Halloween, he'd make sure to have plenty of treats on hand at the fire hall for all kids who stopped by.

“That was an awful nice gesture,” Stewart said. “It didn't seem like a huge thing, but it was.”

Long-time friend Kent Petersen said he recalls several times Shepard would extend a gesture to military members who served but make sure to do it in the quiet, stoic manner for which he was known.

“We'd be in a restaurant and we'd see a guy with a World War II veterans hat and Marty would get up and pay for him,” Petersen said. “It didn't matter if there was one, two or five of them, he'd get up, go over to the waitress, pay for their ticket and never say anything.”

Petersen said he and Shepard formed a close bond over fishing trips and terracing work he'd do on Petersen's farm. In that time, Petersen learned of a man who excelled in football in his youth and as a business man in his adulthood.

“He was one hell of a football player. He played at Magnolia (High School) and had a lot of offers to play in college back in the day,” Petersen said, “but he'd say 'Ah, I don't want to play football, you can't make money doing that.'

“That was Marty Shepard. People don't know it but he was something to reckon with.”

With his business, Petersen said Shepard started from nothing but built business that earned the respect of the community, which Shepard paid back through his service.

“He built a hell of a business, he was well respected and he was a top-shelf individual,” Petersen said. “There have been a lot of good people here and he was one of the best things to happen to Blair.

“He was so smart, had so much sense and he is going to be sorely missed in Blair, Nebraska.”

#3 Funeral leaflet—Marty Lee Shepard (many photos)

Funeral Service 10:30 AM Monday, September 12, 2022 Shepard Enterprises Shop Blair, Nebraska

Born April 29, 1962 Pisgah, Iowa ~ Entered Into Rest September 4, 2022 Missouri Valley, Iowa

Officiant: Lyle Waterhouse. Musical Selections: “Hells Bells” by AC/DC; “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen; “For Those About to Rock” by AC/DC

Pallbearers: Patrick Frain, Leo Shepard, Tim Piccolo, Kent Petersen, Mike Kelley, Lloyd Shepard, Jim Jenkins, Mike Branstetter, Matt Jap, Kevin Wehrli

Final Resting Place: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #243312593