William L. Shepherd

William L. Shepherd, 78, of the Iowa Veteran's Home in Marshalltown, IA, passed away peacefully Monday, December 15, 2025. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Iowa Veterans Home Chapel in Marshalltown, IA. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Iowa Veterans Home Chapel. Anderson Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.
William "Bill" Leroy Shepherd was born January 6, 1947, in Atlantic, IA to Keith and Randine (Gustafson) Shepherd. Bill grew up on a farm near Polk City, IA and graduated from North Polk High School with the class of 1966. Immediately following graduation, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy during the Vietnam war. He was discharged after four years but reenlisted after working at Pittsburg Des Moines Steel to become a 20-year retired veteran. Bill moved across the country living in Georgia, Nevada, California, and Kentucky before moving back to Iowa in March of 2023.
Bill had a passion for airplanes with relatives owning planes in Kansas from a young age that carried through his life. He was a proud member of the American Legion Post 260 in Slater, IA.
Bill made the decision to donate his body to unique scientific studies. He was donated to Northern Michigan University's FROST program where they focus on forensic taphonomy, which refers to the study of all human and natural forces that affect a human body after death. The research from these studies helps solve crimes and is often applied to cases involved unsolved deaths.
Bill is survived by, his sister, Muriel Shepherd, his children, Tiffany Glass (Jason) and Billy Shepherd (Melissa), his nephew, Shawn Noble (Renee), his niece, Tonya Noble Kemp and her children, Gina and Makyla, his grandchildren, Stephen Cook and Ashley Cook, and his great-grandsons, Noah Foster and Teja Bothsa. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Ian, and his parents, Keith and Randine.