On August 15, 1951, in the small town of Linden, Iowa, Howard Dean Shelley was born with an insatiable taste for adventure and an unshakeable sense of duty, marveling over the unique and cherishing all of life’s gifts every step of the way. He was the third child born to Howard L. Shelley and Gloria Shelley (Navas). Howard departed this earth on August 10, 2024, after valiantly fighting a powerful cancer battle over three years.

Howard had many mentors in his lifetime – his older brother, Leslie, perhaps one of the most influential – but he was also an authoritative mentor to whomever he crossed paths with. Whether he was teaching drumbeats to kids at church, showing colleagues new bodywork techniques, guiding his kids through fixing anything and everything, Howard loved counseling others. He was a natural mediator, often playing peacemaker during arguments between siblings.

Howard also deeply loved music and cars, sparking a lifelong passion. His first set of drums was a custom set, hand-drawn on the bed sheet, consequently infuriating his mother. Howard jumped on the road in his early 20s with a traveling band that afforded him the opportunity to play all over the state of Iowa. Despite eventually retiring from the road, his love for drumming continued when he joined the church band, maybe his favorite audience to ever play for.

His close relationship with the Lord remained a constant steady and attending church was a high priority, growing nearer and nearer to God once diagnosed with cancer the first time and every time subsequent. In the face of his biggest adversity yet, Howard completed treatments with grace and tenacity. The Lord continued to anoint healing for Howard, guided his mindset, and offered him clarity and hope. Howard remained ever positive and driven to beat the disease, never giving up his fight or his will.

In 1973, Howard became a father for the first time when his wife Debbie gave birth to a little girl, Randi Jo. In 1987, his second wife, Shelly, gave birth to another girl, Leslie Anne. When he married Cathy in August of 2000, he gained two stepsons, Jamie and Joe. Cathy’s youngest, Joe, lived at home and would grow to become the son Howard never had and always wanted. Always wanting that boy, he successfully raised his two girls to be tomboys in the meantime.

Never knowing a stranger, friends came easily and, with them, meaningful lifetime friendships. Quick to assist friends in need, Howard was never too shy to jump on a roof and lay shingles, build custom bicycles, or invent new tools, all of which he did meticulously. Even the rhubarb he planted was a success. His favorite food in the world was the crepes Cathy would make that included a homemade rhubarb sauce from his very own plants.

This wonderful man is survived by his wife, Cathy Shelley; daughter, Randi Marley (husband, Jared); daughter, Leslie Foster (husband, Damon); stepsons Jamie Rossi and Joe Michaud; three beautiful grandchildren, Taylor Phillips, Hayden Marley, and Paisley Marley; three amazing great-grandchildren, Marley, Hartley, and Casen Phillips; his siblings, brother, Don Shelley (wife, Gail); sister, Gloria Keltner (husband, Connie); brother, Gary Shelley (wife, Barb); and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Howard L. Shelley; mother, Gloria Shelley (Navas); and brother, Leslie Shelley.

A celebration of life will be held in honor of Howard at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Radiant Church, 1300 Metro East Dr., Suite 106, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

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