Glen Milo Sheppard, 96, left his mortal body on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in St. George, Utah. He was born Jan. 3, 1928, in Osgood, Idaho. He was the last surviving member of the family of John Archie and Mabel Casper Sheppard. He married his life-long partner and true love, Joaquina “Quina” Catalan, on June 8, 1955, in the Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Glen was raised in Lewisville, Idaho, where he attended grade school and graduated from Midway High School. Glen said that he was the first person in his class to buy his own car. Glen’s parents moved the family to Pocatello, Idaho, where Glen attended Idaho State College and worked in turn for the railway and for Simplot Corporation. Glen attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected because of an anomaly in the shape of his pupils. He then volunteered to serve a proselyting mission for his church. He served a two-and-a-half-year mission to Mexico. That’s when he met his wife, a resident of Mexico City at the time. After his mission, Glen continued his education at ISC, got married and graduated from college with a degree in biochemistry. His continued education at the University of California at Berkeley and gained a master’s degree in public health. He returned to Idaho to reside in Boise and then Twin Falls while working as a field agent for the Idaho State Department of Public Health. Setting his eyes on a new horizon he left Idaho to attend the University of Utah College of Medicine. Living in Bountiful and then Salt Lake City he completed his education as a Doctor of Medicine, M.D., in 1965. He was known as the old man of his class.
Glen’s career spanned nearly 65 years having practiced his profession in Redding, California then Rigby and Idaho Falls, Idaho, then in St. George, Utah. After retiring from practice he and Quina served several medical and other types of missions for his church. He continued working into his nineties having employment with Indian Health Services and with Senseo Health.
He centered his life around his family and church service. He served with relish all of his callings within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with many opportunities to bear testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which he continued to do even through his dying days. With Quina he raised seven children (six of them daughters), Kirk, Katherine (Kathy), Gail, Joaquina (Jo), Ana Maria (Maria), Sara and Dian, loving each child “more than the next.” He provided adventure in boating, travel, camping, water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling and three-wheeling. His children remember him as kind and gentle, yet firm in his example of keeping the commandments and living the Gospel.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents John Archie “Arch” and Mabel Casper Sheppard of Pocatello, Idaho; and by his siblings Shirley (Roy) Newton of Glendive, Montana; Gail (Margene) Sheppard of Annis, Idaho; Clint (Janice) Sheppard of Tyhee, Idaho; Rex (Fran) Sheppard of Idaho Falls, Idaho; John (Judy) Sheppard of Ammon, Idaho; Barbara Gledhill of Riverside, California; and Goldie Kynaston of Los Angeles, California; his wife Joaquina Catalan Sheppard of St. George, Utah; and by his daughter Kathy (Tracy) Kvarfordt of Henderson, Nevada.
He is survived by his children Kirk (Pam) Sheppard of St. George, Utah; Gail Walker of Salt Lake City, Utah; Joaquina (Eric) Golberg of Simi Valley, California; Ana Maria (Michael) Jeanfreau of Salem, Oregon; Sara Sheppard of St. George, Utah; and Dian Pead of St. George, Utah. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be on Friday, Aug. 9, from 6-7 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St George, Utah.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah. This will be followed by a family luncheon at the LDS chapel at 3381 Mulberry Drive, St. George, Utah.
Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Click here to visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.