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Janice Shepard, 75, of Creston, died Sunday, May 3, 2026, at her home surrounded by family. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Tim Maxa will officiate. Services will be livestreamed at a link under her obituary. Open visitation with family receiving friends will be 1-2 p.m. prior to services at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.
To honor Janice’s passion for reading, memorial contributions may be directed to the Gibson Memorial Library in Creston. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.
Janice Lynn Shepard was born July 20, 1950, to Phyllis Jeane (Welty) Connell and James S. Connell in Red Oak. Due to her dad’s career, the family moved in 1952 to Atlantic and in 1953 to Newton. Janice began her schooling at Aurora Heights Elementary in Newton, but in 1958 the Connell family moved to Greenfield where Janice completed her education and graduated from Greenfield High School with the class of 1968.
During her school years, she enjoyed singing in both the high school and church choirs and developed a lifelong love for bowling. She was also an active member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls from 1962 to 1968.
Janice was united in marriage to Alwin Zimmerline Jr. on June 15, 1968, at the historic Little Brown Church in Nashua. They made their home in Greenfield and were blessed with three daughters: Jodi, Julie and Jennifer. Janice devoted herself to being a loving mother and homemaker.
Janice was an active member of the Greenfield United Methodist Church - singing in the choir, teaching vacation Bible school, leading the youth ministries and the children’s choir, as well as directing the children’s musical “Noah’s Ark.”
In 1979, Janice began commuting to Creston, where she worked for MATURA Action Corp. conducting surveys. She later became the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program coordinator. In spring 1981, Janice and Alwin parted ways and later divorced. Janice moved with her girls to Creston where she continued to work for MATURA for the next 21 years.
On June 7, 1987, Janice was united in marriage to Roger Henry Shepard at their home in Creston. Together, they welcomed two more children, Kati and James. Following her years at MATURA, Janice worked in the accounting department for Lakeside Casino in Osceola and for P.T.I. as a driver and later, a driver supervisor for the railroad, retiring in 2013.
Janice was an avid bowler and longtime bowling scorekeeper, which is how she and Roger first met. She enjoyed reading, solving crossword puzzles, completing jigsaw puzzles, following Iowa State Cyclones football and basketball and playing piano, which she returned to in her later years. Above all, Janice cherished time spent with her family.
Janice is survived by her husband Roger Shepard of Creston; her five children: Jodi (Brad) Goodale of Fremont, Julie (David) Chumbley of Halbur, Jennifer (Shawn) James of Prescott, Kati (Rob) Silliman of Osceola and James (Brandi) Shepard of Des Moines; 16 grandchildren: Roni (Dave Jr.) Mays of Webster City, Tori (Nick) Bertrand of Pipestone, Minnesota, Joshua and Jillian Chumbley of Halbur, Jacob Kinyon (Lexi Weston) of Villisca, Daniel Kinyon (Taylor Hopkins) of Ogden, Matthew Kinyon of Corning, Lucas and Gabriel James of Prescott, Jerrod, Hunter, Kortni and Kalita Silliman of Osceola, Landon and Braiden Johnson and Ryleigh Shepard of Des Moines; 10 great-grandchildren: Isaac, Delilah, KyLynn, Leah, Grayson, Violet, Presley, Emery, Izzy and Lilah; brother-in-law Phil (Denise) Shepard; extended family members and her faithful dog Charlie.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents: Ruby and Smith A. Connell II, C. Mildred and Rex E. Welty; her sister Karen McCauley; her niece Melinda McCauley; her nephew Steve Shepard; her parents-in-law, Henry and Helen Shepard; her adored great-aunt Gola Carver and her beloved dogs: Patches and Sophie.