Aleksandra “Alek” Shepherd-Veretennikova, age 14, of Colo, Iowa, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2017, at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at the United Methodist Church in Colo, with Pastor Charlie Husak of White Oak Church officiating.  Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to services.  There will also be a service at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2018, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, 625 N. 6^th Street, Burlington, Iowa, with visitation one hour prior to services.  Burial will follow in Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. 

Born November 4, 2003, in Ames, Iowa, Aleksandra Romanovna Shepherd-Veretennikova was the daughter of Jolie Shepherd and Roman V. Veretennikov.  Alek was a happy, bouncy eighth grade student at Colo-Nesco Middle School.  She was artistic, enjoyed drawing, hanging out with her friends, watching YouTube videos, and music.  Alek loved her family, their four dogs and six cats, and shared a special bond with her older brother, Roman. 

Survivors include her mother, Jolie Shepherd, of Colo, and father, Roman V. Veretennikov of Tomsk, Russia; her brother, Roman, at home; her maternal grandmother, Dana Shepherd of Waukee; her paternal grandmother, Tatiana Veretennikova of Tomsk, Russia; a half-brother, Nikita Veretennikov of Tomsk, Russia; three aunts, Beth (Chris) Betz of Winterset, Rita Lapshina of Tomsk, Russia, and Natasha Guskova of Moscow, Russia; as well as other extended family members and friends.

Alek was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Robert Shepherd.

Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Alek and her family.