Mark Henry Shields

When reflecting on the life of Mark Shields, it is clear to see that his days were laden with thoughtful gestures of love for those he treasured out of his endless heart. He was vibrant, full of life, and fun-loving, too, and he made sure those around him had just as much fun as he did. Marks bonfires were unforgettable and so were the family traditions that were a vital part of every holiday and many ordinary days, too. A man of unwavering faith, Marks compassion for the world around him teaches us what it truly means to be the hands and feet of the Lord he loved. The Nifty Fifties were a vibrant time in the history of America. Television shows shaped our perception of the American family, and popular artists such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis forever changed the cultural fabric of our nation. Since two-thirds of all cars were purchased on a credit card by the year 1957, it was clear that we were addicted to buying now and paying later. Amidst this colorful year there was great joy for one young family from Muskegon, Michigan, since it was on March 25th that they celebrated the birth of a healthy baby boy. Mark Henry was welcomed into the world by his loving parents, Martin and Ella (Fenner) Shields, and was one of four children in his family including his siblings: Dave, Kathy, and Tim. His father worked as a pattern maker while his mother was a homemaker. As a young boy Mark kept very active. He was involved in Little League, and he also really loved being a Boy Scout. The Shields family enjoyed family vacations spent camping in several national parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and even a park in Alaska where memories were made that Mark cherished throughout his life. They were members of First Lutheran Church where Mark participated in various activities and since they were of Irish descent, St. Patricks Day was always a time of celebration in their home as well. Mark attended Reeths-Puffer Elementary, Laketon Junior High, and Reeths-Puffer High School. It was also as a high school student that Mark became very interested in scuba diving. Like boys so often do, Mark found his fair share of mischief at times. He and his good friend, Rick Stapel, once took some frozen fish that belonged to Marks father by mistake, but that didnt stop them from cooking and eating it, angering his father. There was also the time that Mark took the family van out two-tracking and ended up bending the luggage rack. For whatever reason, Mark thought perhaps whacking it back into shape with a baseball bat was a good solution, but one he may not have chosen if he knew his father was watching his feeble attempts through the window. Needless to say, this didnt work out too well for Mark. After graduating from high school in 1975, Mark went on to earn certifications in metallurgy. His work as a metallurgist brought him to CWC for a time and also to Kaydon Industries for several years where he worked doing non-destructive testing on material used for aircraft components. Life was forever changed when Mark met the love of his life, Renee Brusseau, while working at CWC. They got to talking about the Lord, studied the Bible together, and started dating. Mark and Renee married on June 23, 2000. He made their honeymoon one his bride will never forget by surprising her with a small plane that took them to their little fishing boat that they sailed back down the coast of Lake Michigan. Nothing could have been better for Mark than becoming a father with the birth of his daughter, Marcie, in 1980. She was followed by Katie in 1982, Ben in 1983, Nena in 1984, and Matt in 1993. As a father Mark was second to none as he was loving, thoughtful, and a bit alternative as well. He raised his children to embrace Christian values and instilled family traditions into their lives, too. Mark made every day special for his family and was involved in the lives of his children. He participated in father/daughter Girl Scout camp and took his family on numerous memorable camping and family vacations. A simple bonfire was never good enough for Mark since as far as he was concerned, the bigger the better. He always put gasoline on it to start it but since the fumes settled by the time he threw a match on it, all the surrounding grass was quickly engulfed in flames and the hair on Marks legs was usually missing as well! The walks he took with his daughter, Nena, will never be forgotten as they were a time of great conversation and just enjoying each others company. Family picnics and cookouts on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July were special events, and even simple things such as watching sunsets together were priceless. Holidays will certainly never be the same without Mark taking a nap on the couch no matter what chaos erupted around him. The lives of many others were enriched for having known Mark. He made time to take early morning fishing trips with his nephew, Jeremy, that werent so much about catching fish but more about shooting the breeze. Mark was a founding member of Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Muskegon, and he also hosted a small group Bible study, attended Des Colores, and took a mission trip to India. Special friendships with Pastor Bill Johnson, Pastor Kyle Kramer, Jim Warner, and so many others in his church family were so important to Mark. He served as a leader in Boy Scout Troop 1048 for many years, shaping the lives of young men. Mark loved spending time with his grandchildren, babysitting whenever he could. He took Hanna fishing, went out for ice cream or to the park, and put a lot of effort into making things for them. There are many words to describe Mark Shields words such as loving, honest, and funny. He was proud of being Irish, loved nature and sunsets, and sitting around a roaring bonfire, but nothing was more near and dear to his heart than his faith and his family. Mark will be deeply missed by countless others. Mark H. Shields died on March 2, 2011. Marks family includes his wife, Renee; sons, Benjamin (Randi) Kellner of Chicago, Matthew Shields of Muskegon; daughters, Marcie (Eric) Rower of Grand Rapids, Katie (Adam) Hashimoto of Port Orchard WA, Nena (Chris) Potts of Muskegon; Linda Shields (mother of Marcie & Katie), granddaughters, Hanna Kellner, Ella Rower; father, Martin (Dee DeBoef) Shields; brothers, David (Deb) Shields, Timothy (Kari) Shields; sister, Kathryn (Randy) Craig. Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Ella Shields. Services will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Bill Uetricht officiating. Visit with Marks family and friends on Friday, 3-7 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon and Saturday, 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Vineyard Christian Fellowship Building Fund, BSA Troop 1048, or First Evangelical Lutheran Memorial Fund.