News : Kay Shepherd begins enjoying retirement after 30+ years in health care

Harold Shepherd watches as Kay poses for a photo at her retirement party.

Gathered with her family at Golf Right on a recent Friday evening, Kay Shepherd said she does not really have any specific plans for retirement. As she answered that question, the door opened and in walked three of her grandchildren.
Now that Kay has retired after eight years as the Assistant Nurse Director at Virginia Gay Hospital Nursing and Rehab Center, she and her husband Harold will, indeed, be able to spend more time with their children and grandchildren.

One career, two perspectives
Kay spent 28 years as a school nurse in the Vinton/Shellsburg district, helping the youngest citizens with their health concerns. She found herself at the other end of the age spectrum, when she accepted the job offer at VGH.
After ending her tenure as school nurse, Kay knew she would need to look for another job. But she said she never considered working in a nursing home setting until she received a call from VGH inviting her to apply.
While long-term care was totally new to her, Kay accepted the job.
“I want to thank my boss, Jess Henkle, for her patience in teaching me,” said Kay.
One of the interesting parts of Kay's job was helping families she had met while caring for their children when those same family members needed to find long-term care for their parents or grandparents.
“After working in the same town for more than 30 years, you get to know a lot of people,” says Kay. “I think it was helpful for those families facing the new experience of putting a loved one in long-term care to see a familiar face.”
Henkle says there are two things that stand out about Kay's work at VGH.
“She always had a smile on her face and was always willing to go the extra mile,” she said.

Baseball, basketball plans

The biggest change so far, says Kay of her retirement, is that she no longer has to set her alarm clock to get up for work.
She and Harold began her retirement with a short trip to St. Louis, where they watched the Cardinals win a play-off game. While that game was the first the couple saw this year, baseball has been an important part of their recreation for years. The frequently attend Major League games in Midwestern cities, and a trip south with the Obermuellers to watch some spring training games has become a tradition.
The other family tradition, of course, is basketball. The couple has been married 31 years and Kay has accompanied Iowa coaching Hall of Fame member Harold to hundreds of games during his years of coaching at Vinton-Shellsburg. Those decades were followed by a few years at the college level at William Jewell University in Missouri (where he served as an assistant to former Vikette player Jill Rector Cress). Now, Harold is coaching the varsity girls team at West Delaware. His team played against VS last winter, in Vinton. Practice starts soon; Kay says Coach Shepherd will coach at WD for another year.