Gordon Richard Shoeman

Gordon Richard “Dick” Shoeman, whose mission in life was to spread joy through love and gentle humor, embarked on his final expedition into the great unknown on August 27, 2024, at the age of 76. He went peacefully, at home, after a valiant fight with cancer.

Please join all that loved Gordon as we celebrate his final curtain call with a Celebration of Life Sunday, September 15th at 2pm at HiFi Brew Lounge (103 South 11th Street, West Des Moines). Gordon will be interned at Resthaven Cemetery (801 19th Street, West Des Moines) in a private family ceremony.

Gordon was born on the second of July in 1948, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where his father was stationed. After his father retired from the Army, the family moved back to central Iowa. Gordon graduated from Madrid High School class of '66, then spent the next couple of years kicking around central Iowa with his friends, playing bass in a rock and roll band called “Synthetic Blotto”.

Gordon was drafted into the Army in 1968. After serving, he attended DMACC, channeling his creativity into a degree in Commercial Art. While attending DMACC he met a groovy chick named Janet, and on December 22, 1973, the two were married and set off, hand in hand, to tackle life's next adventures. They celebrated their 50th anniversary together this last December.

Gordon's career was a testament to his love for storytelling through art. His favorite job was teaching Film Animation to children and teens through the Des Moines Art Center, which he did for over 14 years. His compassion wasn't confined to the classroom; he also extended his hand and heart to adults with disabilities, proving that true art knows no barriers.

Gordon's hobbies were as eclectic as his taste in music— drawing, delving into the oddities of life, discovering strange new bands, and ruling over the kingdom of his loving cats with a benevolent paw. His spiritual path led him to the strange and unusual, a quest that always led to new revelations. In the collegiate sports world, no one yelled louder than Gordon for the Hawkeyes. His fervent support was such that it inspired his daughter to write an illustrated story in Elementary school called “My Dad Yells Loud”.

Gordon charmed his family with love and laughter, and is survived by his loving wife, Janet Shoeman; daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Nick Borror; his siblings and their families: Janice Peterson, Jeannie Shoeman, Joan Vial, Robert Shoeman and Dorothy Futter. Preceding him in the grand exit were his parents, Gordon C. and Mildred Shoeman; brother Reginald Shoeman; and daughter Anna Shoeman.

In lieu of traditional gestures, those wishing to honor Gordon's technicolor legacy may make contributions to the Des Moines Art Center, a place that fueled his creative spirit.

desmoinesartcenter.org/support/give/

To see samples of Gordon's artwork, go to:

https://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=6D5A6F31-701F-4A7F-8EC2-C703D5533063

His life was a symphony of joy, a masterpiece of kindness, and an animation of love that will replay in the hearts of all who knew him.

"Goodbye stranger, it's been nice, Hope you find your paradise

Tried to see your point of view, Hope your dreams will all come true

Goodbye, Mary, goodbye, Jane, Will we ever meet again?

Feel no sorrow, feel no shame, Come tomorrow, feel no pain"

-Supertramp