John B. Shipley

JOHN BERT SHIPLEY,

78, of Lowell, IN, went peacefully into the hands of the Lord on Monday, July 27, 2026 after a long battle with heart disease.  He leaves behind his beautiful and strong wife of 44 years, Jane (nee Regnier) Shipley.  Although they graduated together from Lowell High School in 1967, they did not date until years later when Jane’s dad played match-maker.  

John’s training as a diesel mechanic began as a young child working alongside his dad at the Shipley Garage.  He went on to own and operate JB Trucking, his own service garage, and eventually retired from Teamsters 142.  An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping.  Winters were spent researching and planning the next garden and weekends were frequently spent watching racing or at classic car shows.  John's favorite mornings started with friends and loving service from the staff at Don Delfis House of Pancakes.  

In addition to his wife Jane, John is survived by his two daughters.  Wendy (Scott) Pflughoeft and their family: Ember (Caleb) Swing and their children Declan and Rosalie; Aspen, Ily and Yara Pflughoeft.  Heather (Justin) Marshall and their family: Morgan (Zak Soiseth) Hamilton, LCPL Gavin McGuire USMC, Maleah Marshall and her two sisters.  Also surviving is his sister, Marilyn Popplewell and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Kate Shipley and brother-in-law, Gary Popplewell.

Cremation will precede Visitation on August 8, from 11-2, Concluding with a Memorial Service at 2 PM, all at Sheets Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lowell. A dinner will follow at Signature Banquets in Lowell.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the 1441 Foundation, whose primary focus is to raise suicide awareness for veterans and families.

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