Catherine Marie Shepherd, age 61 of Baraga, MI passed away on Sunday, August 20th, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Mary's Campus, in Rochester, Minnesota.
She was born October 13, 1961 in Chicago, IL daughter of Raymond and Patricia (Emery) Kemppainen. Catherine graduated from Kelvyn Park High School in 1979. She married Ambrose Shepherd on August 1, 1981 in Cameron, AZ. They moved around a lot with the military, residing mostly in Albert Lea, Minnesota and moving to Baraga, MI in 2017.
Catherine was a member of KBIC and Ojibwa Seniors. She had a small business, Shepherd Enterprises, were she sold jewelry, arts and crafts that she had made. Catherine enjoyed traveling, and spending time with her children and grand children.
Surviving are her husband Ambrose Shepherd of Baraga; children, Nicholas (Leonisa) Shepherd of Tucson, AZ, Ethan Shepherd of Baraga, Miranda Shepherd of Houston, TX, Ira Shepherd of Albert Lea, MN; brother Michael (Anita) Kemppainen of Lawrence, KS; sister Lorrie (Donald) Horst of Rockford, IL; sisters-in-law, Pam Kemppainen of Chicago, IL, Melinda Kemppainen of Lawrence, KS, Sheena Kemppainen of North Carolina; three grandchildren, Aiden, Emery, and Ellie.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Raymond Sr and Patricia; brothers, Raymond Jr, Erick, Mark, Craig, and Rodney Kemppainen.
Visitation and drumming will be on Thursday, August 24th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the Ojibwa Seniors Ceremonial Room in Baraga. Her traditional funeral service will be on Friday, August 25th at 12:00 p.m. at the Ojibwa Seniors Ceremonial Room. The burial will follow in the Keweenaw Bay Cemetery. A luncheon will be at 2:00 p.m. at the Ojibwa Senior Center. The Jacobson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Friends may sign Catherine's guest book or send condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com