Rev. Brian J. Shepley

The Rev. Brian J. Shepley, 54, a priest of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, died suddenly on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at his home in Mt. Pleasant.

The Rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 607 S. Jackson St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will greet friends following the Rosary until the time of the Christian Vigil Service, which will be held at 5 p.m., at the church. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, with Bishop Martin J. Amos celebrating. Interment will be held at 1 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City. Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel of Mt. Pleasant, assisted by Bentley Funeral Home of Durant, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that gifts of love and friendship be given to Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Charles City, or the Priest’s Aid Society, which offers assistance to retired priests. Online condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com.

Born on Jan. 27, 1962, in Charles City, Brian John Shepley was the son of John D. and Eleanor C. (Ewen) Shepley. 

He graduated from Charles City Community Senior High School in 1980. A 1983 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College, Brian continued his education, receiving a B.A. degree in philosophy from St. Ambrose University in 1988.  Honoring his love for the Lord, Brian obtained his Master of Divinity at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wis., in 1992. Father Shepley was ordained June 12, 1992, by Most Reverend Gerald O’Keefe, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeWitt, Iowa.

Father Shepley’s first assignment in the Davenport Diocese was as Parochial Vicar at All Saints’ Catholic Church in Keokuk, along with teaching religion at Cardinal Stritch Catholic Schools in Keokuk. In July 1995, he was appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Mary’s Parish, in Iowa City. Fr. Shepley was assigned as pastor for St. Mary’s Parish in Wilton, and chaplain of Assumption High School in Davenport. He also served as pastor for St. Bridget Church in Victor and St. Patrick Church in Brooklyn, before his current assignment in Mt. Pleasant. Fr. Shepley served on the Iowa Catholic Conference as a representative for the Diocese of Davenport. Most recently, on the Feast of St. Andrew, Nov. 30, 2016, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a Deacon in the Catholic Church and was looking forward to his silver jubilee as a priest in 2017.

An avid dog lover, Fr. Shepley treasured the time spent with his beloved companions, a black lab, Sydney, and currently his two dachshunds, Violet and Sammy. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed sharing his talents with family and friends.  He liked antiques and traveling with family and friends. Fr. Shepley had special gift of ministry for the bereaved and suffering. 

Fr. Shepley is survived by his sister, Barbara (Les) Graham of Eyota, Minn.; a brother, Tom (Jennifer) Shepley of Chester, Va.; four nieces, Erin (Lane) Johnson, Emily (Russ) Gehling, AnnaMarie Koehler-Shepley, and Audrey Shepley; and two nephews, Andrew Graham and John Shepley.

Along with his parents, Fr. Shepley was preceded in death by aunts and uncles.

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