Obituary for Linda Sue Sheppard (Demlow)
Linda Sue (Demlow) Sheppard of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Harbor Springs, died September 9, 2021, after living a decade with frontotemporal dementia (BV-FTD).
Born January 19, 1959, Linda was the younger daughter of Carol (Leonard) Demlow and Ronald Demlow. She attended Winn Elementary and Shepherd Middle schools and graduated in 1977 from Petoskey High School.
Linda earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Northern Michigan University. In 1981, she began a 31-year career at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, serving as an obstetrics/gynecology, neonatal, and pediatric nurse. In 2002 she took part in the longest nurses strike in U. S. history, walking the picket line while also working for the Red Cross blood bank. When she retired in 2012, she was the clinical nurse manager of the hospital's OB unit. As a hospital nurse, childbirth educator, and doula, Linda took great joy in, and is lovingly remembered by many for, assisting in the delivery of hundreds if not thousands of babies.
Linda married Kim Sheppard in 1984. Kim's son Blayne became part of her family. Linda and Kim raised their children Thomas and Nicole in Harbor Springs, where Linda attended church, loved her children's school activities, pursued her nursing career, enjoyed keeping her home and gardens beautiful, and baked anything for anyone.
Linda treasured time with her family camping, fishing, and cross-country skiing. She was an avid and competitive player of games including euchre, backgammon, and Yahtzee. She loved bump jumping, gardening, and morel hunting, as well as a lifetime of get-away weekends with college roommates Mary, Renae, and Tena. She enjoyed music of all kinds, especially country music (Keith Urban). She laughed big, easily, and often; would do anything for anyone at a moment's notice, and it never took long, when with her sister Deanna, for them both to dissolve in fits of giggling. Linda made everything in her world more beautiful and more fun.
In 2012, after being diagnosed with BV-FTD, Linda moved to Mt. Pleasant so that her family could care for her. Gradually robbed of her skills, her freedom, and ultimately her life by an affliction unique in its slow relentless cruelty, Linda nevertheless made the best of every day. She continued to teach others by example, demonstrating patience, acceptance, and unconditional love. Just as she had blessed so many others with her service down through the years, she was blessed with loving care provided by her devoted family, friends, and caregivers, led by Carol and Deanna.
Linda is survived by her son Thomas (Colleen) and their daughter Phoebe (3 months old) of Grand Rapids, and her daughter Nicole Ryder (Tim) and their son Koen (5 months old) of Wenatchee, Washington.
She is also survived by her mother, Carol Grossa, and step-father John Grossa; sister Deanna Heath (Rob Kantner) and sister-in-law Yvonne Wilcox (Al). Survivors also include nephews Jonathan Heath (Ashleigh) and Dustin Demlow; niece Amanda Van Rhee (Jeff), niece / partner in shenanigans Adrienne Heath (David Whitefoot), four great-nieces and nephews, ex-husband Kim (Gale) Sheppard, step-son Blayne Sheppard (Rachel) and his daughter Mya, and uncountable others who were enriched by her loving fun spirit and life of service.
She was preceded in death by her father, brother Steven Demlow, niece Carrie Heath, and stepfather Victor Kniffen.
A private burial will be held at Union Cemetery, Fremont Township, Isabella County, Michigan. A celebration of Linda's life, with a Nurse Honor Guard participating, will be held Sunday, September 26, 2021, at 1 p.m., at Clark Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, with refreshments to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Linda Sheppard Fund for Nurses at Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, 616 Petoskey St. Ste 203, Petoskey, Michigan 49770-2779.
Born January 19, 1959, Linda was the younger daughter of Carol (Leonard) Demlow and Ronald Demlow. She attended Winn Elementary and Shepherd Middle schools and graduated in 1977 from Petoskey High School.
Linda earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Northern Michigan University. In 1981, she began a 31-year career at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, serving as an obstetrics/gynecology, neonatal, and pediatric nurse. In 2002 she took part in the longest nurses strike in U. S. history, walking the picket line while also working for the Red Cross blood bank. When she retired in 2012, she was the clinical nurse manager of the hospital's OB unit. As a hospital nurse, childbirth educator, and doula, Linda took great joy in, and is lovingly remembered by many for, assisting in the delivery of hundreds if not thousands of babies.
Linda married Kim Sheppard in 1984. Kim's son Blayne became part of her family. Linda and Kim raised their children Thomas and Nicole in Harbor Springs, where Linda attended church, loved her children's school activities, pursued her nursing career, enjoyed keeping her home and gardens beautiful, and baked anything for anyone.
Linda treasured time with her family camping, fishing, and cross-country skiing. She was an avid and competitive player of games including euchre, backgammon, and Yahtzee. She loved bump jumping, gardening, and morel hunting, as well as a lifetime of get-away weekends with college roommates Mary, Renae, and Tena. She enjoyed music of all kinds, especially country music (Keith Urban). She laughed big, easily, and often; would do anything for anyone at a moment's notice, and it never took long, when with her sister Deanna, for them both to dissolve in fits of giggling. Linda made everything in her world more beautiful and more fun.
In 2012, after being diagnosed with BV-FTD, Linda moved to Mt. Pleasant so that her family could care for her. Gradually robbed of her skills, her freedom, and ultimately her life by an affliction unique in its slow relentless cruelty, Linda nevertheless made the best of every day. She continued to teach others by example, demonstrating patience, acceptance, and unconditional love. Just as she had blessed so many others with her service down through the years, she was blessed with loving care provided by her devoted family, friends, and caregivers, led by Carol and Deanna.
Linda is survived by her son Thomas (Colleen) and their daughter Phoebe (3 months old) of Grand Rapids, and her daughter Nicole Ryder (Tim) and their son Koen (5 months old) of Wenatchee, Washington.
She is also survived by her mother, Carol Grossa, and step-father John Grossa; sister Deanna Heath (Rob Kantner) and sister-in-law Yvonne Wilcox (Al). Survivors also include nephews Jonathan Heath (Ashleigh) and Dustin Demlow; niece Amanda Van Rhee (Jeff), niece / partner in shenanigans Adrienne Heath (David Whitefoot), four great-nieces and nephews, ex-husband Kim (Gale) Sheppard, step-son Blayne Sheppard (Rachel) and his daughter Mya, and uncountable others who were enriched by her loving fun spirit and life of service.
She was preceded in death by her father, brother Steven Demlow, niece Carrie Heath, and stepfather Victor Kniffen.
A private burial will be held at Union Cemetery, Fremont Township, Isabella County, Michigan. A celebration of Linda's life, with a Nurse Honor Guard participating, will be held Sunday, September 26, 2021, at 1 p.m., at Clark Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, with refreshments to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Linda Sheppard Fund for Nurses at Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, 616 Petoskey St. Ste 203, Petoskey, Michigan 49770-2779.