Former North football coach, athletic director Bob Shepler dies

Kyle Sanders well remembers the toughness of Bob Shepler, his former football coach at North.

“He was old school,” said Sanders, North’s baseball coach who was hired by Mr. Shepler in 1981. “He was tough. He had that scowl about him when he was coaching. You didn’t want to cross him, and you didn’t want to disappoint him.”

Mr. Shepler died on Monday at his home following a battle with heart, liver and kidney problems. He was 85.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Donzella, his sons Jeff and Rob, his daughter, Julie Horsley, six grandkids and six great-grandkids. His first wife, Marilyn, preceeded him in death.

There will not be a funeral, but Mr. Shepler’s children are planning a memorial celebration next summer.

“I think he always believed in people,” said Mr. Shepler’s son, Jeff. He always believed in that they could do good. But he always shot you straight.

“… He just believed in hard work and treating everyone fairly. He touched so many lives.”

Mr. Shepler didn’t mind letting someone know how he felt.

“When he got in your face, you knew your face had been gotten into,” Sanders said. “Ultimately he really cared about you and loved you, and you wanted to do anything for him.”

Mr. Shepler coached North football from 1964-74 and then from 1978-84. He was 101-63-4 and ranks sixth in City League wins. He led North to the playoffs six times.

His first coaching job was at Eskridge. He also coached at Nickerson and at Eastern New Mexico as an assistant.

He also was the North athletic director for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1991.

“He was a great coach on the field, and he trusted me a lot, which meant a lot at that time,,” said Mark Standiford, who was a running back for two years and then the quarterback at North in 1983.

“He taught me how to compete and go out there at a high level. In my mind he was a great player’s coach. Everybody loved to play for him. The three years I was there, he was able to create a family atmosphere that made my three years there very special.”

Standiford, who is the Tabor baseball coach, has carried forward lessons he learned while playing for Mr. Shepler.

“He came along at the time in my life that he was able to influence a lot of different things,” Standiford said. “Especially on the field. He was a great motivator. He made you want to play. He made you want to play hard.”

Sanders recalled Mr. Shepler’s nerves before games.

“He had his head down on the table and his legs were going up and down 90 mph. Just all that pent-up energy before the game. It meant everything to him,” Sanders said.

Two weeks ago Mr. Shepler was in the hospital, but he wanted to get home to his wife. Jeff Shepler said doctors told his dad he was dying.

Knowing that he would die at home was fine for Mr. Shepler.

“He said, ‘Well, if I’m going to die, I’m going to die with my wife,’” Jeff Shepler said. “He was stubborn to the very end. We said, ‘Dad, it’s OK to close your eyes.’ He said, ‘No, I’m going to fight. Not going to take me without a fight.’”

This story was originally published October 28, 2014 at 1:09 PM with the headline "Former North football coach, athletic director Bob Shepler dies."