Kenneth Darryl "Kd" Shipman

Kenneth Darryl "KD" Shipman, age 82, traveled to heaven from his home in Peru, Indiana on Friday, November 13th.  He was preceded in death recently by his beautiful wife, Chen, and they will now be reunited lovingly in each other's arms.

Dad was a caring sibling to his brothers and sisters, a remarkable father to his sons, and most of all an immeasurable force of love to his wife for more than 50 years. A Peru native for the majority of his life, save for a period serving his country in the United States Navy. He retired from the C&O Railroad in 2000. From his marriage, he was blessed with two sons who survive. Kenneth Michael Shipman resides in Belton, Texas with his wife Shannon and their children, Kiri and Skylar. Darryl Scott Shipman resides in Fort Wayne with his son Dylan. He leaves a surviving brother, Steve Shipman, who resides in Peru. An "adopted" daughter, Danielle Winters, survives as well. Friends from the past who offered caring conversation in recent years, as well as neighbors who treated him like family survive as well.

In life, everyone should have the good fortune to meet someone they can see as a hero. Dad was a beacon of honesty and someone who people knew would stand behind whatever words he shared. He enjoyed working on cars, fishing, and tinkering on virtually anything that caught his curiosity. He would do this for his own, and often for anyone that needed a helping hand. His union with his wife was a majestic bond that was cemented in a purpose to give back to others. Solace can only be had knowing they will be together now as they were on this earth in a better place.

Tough, loving, honest, dedicated, loyal, and funny could all be words used to describe KD Shipman. In my opinion, there aren't enough words to describe the kind of man he was to myself, his family, and friends. The way he conducted his life would be a template for a better world. His leaving of this earth gives us one less hero to look up too. For me, he quite simply was the king of cool.