Kevin Wayne Shepard
July 7, 1965 - October 11, 2025
Kevin went to be with his maker on October 11, 2025. He was born on July 7, 1965 in Sacramento, CA the first child of Wayne Shepard and Donna Wallis. From the very first Kevin was a unique child. In kindergarten he didn’t understand why the other kids were playing with blocks and he was expertly playing dominoes and speaking two languages.
After graduating from Tracy High School, he joined the United States Marine Corp serving in the 3rd Battalion/3rd Marines spending time in Korea, the South Pacific and Hawaii. While in the Marines he received a Certificate of Recognition while serving Mess Duty on his ship. He participated in bull riding for the Marine Rodeo Team. This year he was looking forward to celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Marines. Always a Marine. That was Kevin, Semper Fi.
After leaving the marines he studied at San Joaquin Delta College, then went to work at U.S. Can (Hunter Container) where he had been a machinist, Supervisor, Section Leader and Plant Wide Safety Inspector until the company closed. He then went to work at Zond, a part of Enron, as a windmill mechanic until Enron went bankrupt. Kevin was a walking encyclopedia. He could converse with anyone on just about any subject with an unusual in-depth knowledge of almost anything. He inherited the family gene of loving and enjoying cooking and eating good food and fine wine when he wasn’t drinking beer and eating sweets. One of the most memorable things he prepared was Lemon Meringue Pie. He loved spending time with the family on the holidays, especially the 4th of July as we always celebrated his birthday on the 4th . He was passionate about his guns, an excellent marksman. He liked to hunt, fish and pan for gold. He was an excellent photographer and has one of his military photos hanging at the Marines’ Memorial Association in San Francisco. On his softer side, he loved his family and his pets and was a poet and writing about his first love, food and friends, although some might consider them “corny” poems.
Kevin was preceded in death by his father Wayne Shepard, grandparents Ben Beeskau, Norma Isbel Beeskau, Riley Shepard and Ruth Shepard, step-father Lynn Wallis and Aunt Judy Cervo. He is survived by his mother Donna Wallis, sisters Karen Huntoon (Shane) and Janette Crouson and nephews Riley Huntoon and Thomas Crouson. He is also survived by his Uncle Lyal Beeskau (Marty) and Aunt Joan Schmoe (Ray) and several cousins.
VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 9:00am - 12:00pm on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
SERVICE
A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 at San Joaquín Valley National Cemetery, located at 32053 McCabe Rd, Santa Nella, CA 95322.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Shepard family.