"Opa"
A comfortable easy chair remains empty, and the television switched off, for on December 21, 2015, Florence Shields prepared a heavenly party. The veal shanks were cooked perfectly, and a minced meat pie cooled. After an absence of 53 years she wanted to bring her little boy home.
Richard "Dick" Dorrell Shields was born in Rockford, Illinois on February 12, 1930. He was the only child of the late Dorrell "Bud" Shields and Florence (Wales) Shields. He was a graduate of West High School. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent during the Korean Conflict. Following the death of his mother in 1962, he left Illinois to be with his best friends Lloyd and Rose Gustafson and settled in Modesto.
In August 1963, he met the love of his life, Margaret (Kleber) Stallone. Following a whirlwind courtship, they married in Carson City, Nevada on October 11, 1963, witnessed by Margaret's closest friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson. For the next half a century, Dick worked in sales until his final retirement at age 80 in 2010.
Dick and Margaret traveled extensively, mostly to Margaret's homeland of Austria. Besides being with family, the Shields spent most of their free time with their best friends the Robinsons and the Gustafsons. They enjoyed many happy evenings at the Shields' residence. Dick always enjoyed a good time, and was known for his amazing story-telling abilities and comic timing
Left to mourn his passing is the lady who lived in her eyes, his beloved wife of 52 years, Margaret Shields of Modesto. He also survived by his daughters, Sonja (Steve) Sher of Fresno, CA and Linda (Michael) Seymour of Turlock, CA. He leaves his children, Linda (Bart) Paul of Rockford, Il, Pamela (Eugene) Surmo of Cherry Valley, Il, Danny Hensley of Norco, CA, Lori (Joe) Tarara of Rockford, Il. He was a treasured Opa to Teresa (Adam) Fiss, David Seymour, and Matthew Seymour, as well as two-great grandchildren Lance and Juliana Fiss. Dick is also survived by the following grandchildren; Amy Marie and Brian Paul, Chad (Tracy) and Katie Surmo, Danny, David, and Mark Hensley, and Antonino Tarara, and two-great grandchildren, Mason and Gavvin Surmo. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves his brother-in-law Engelbert (Theresia) Kleber and sister-in-law Anna Kleber all of Austria. He is also survived by many dear friends including Ellen Miner and Gerda Beckstein, and the Robinson family who considered Dick their second father and Opa. Besides his parents, Dick is preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Nelson and Nellie Shields and George and Lucy Wales, and his best friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson, Lloyd and Rose Gustafson, and Margarethe Dzierla.
As his mother prepares his welcome and his friends wait for his heavenly arrival, on earth, as she squeezed his hand, he gazed one last time into the beautiful green eyes of his wife and slips away. She lost a partner, but gained another vigilant guardian angel. As he arrives to the room prepared for him, you can almost hear him speak his famous line, "It's a hell of a deal."
A comfortable easy chair remains empty, and the television switched off, for on December 21, 2015, Florence Shields prepared a heavenly party. The veal shanks were cooked perfectly, and a minced meat pie cooled. After an absence of 53 years she wanted to bring her little boy home.
Richard "Dick" Dorrell Shields was born in Rockford, Illinois on February 12, 1930. He was the only child of the late Dorrell "Bud" Shields and Florence (Wales) Shields. He was a graduate of West High School. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent during the Korean Conflict. Following the death of his mother in 1962, he left Illinois to be with his best friends Lloyd and Rose Gustafson and settled in Modesto.
In August 1963, he met the love of his life, Margaret (Kleber) Stallone. Following a whirlwind courtship, they married in Carson City, Nevada on October 11, 1963, witnessed by Margaret's closest friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson. For the next half a century, Dick worked in sales until his final retirement at age 80 in 2010.
Dick and Margaret traveled extensively, mostly to Margaret's homeland of Austria. Besides being with family, the Shields spent most of their free time with their best friends the Robinsons and the Gustafsons. They enjoyed many happy evenings at the Shields' residence. Dick always enjoyed a good time, and was known for his amazing story-telling abilities and comic timing
Left to mourn his passing is the lady who lived in her eyes, his beloved wife of 52 years, Margaret Shields of Modesto. He also survived by his daughters, Sonja (Steve) Sher of Fresno, CA and Linda (Michael) Seymour of Turlock, CA. He leaves his children, Linda (Bart) Paul of Rockford, Il, Pamela (Eugene) Surmo of Cherry Valley, Il, Danny Hensley of Norco, CA, Lori (Joe) Tarara of Rockford, Il. He was a treasured Opa to Teresa (Adam) Fiss, David Seymour, and Matthew Seymour, as well as two-great grandchildren Lance and Juliana Fiss. Dick is also survived by the following grandchildren; Amy Marie and Brian Paul, Chad (Tracy) and Katie Surmo, Danny, David, and Mark Hensley, and Antonino Tarara, and two-great grandchildren, Mason and Gavvin Surmo. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves his brother-in-law Engelbert (Theresia) Kleber and sister-in-law Anna Kleber all of Austria. He is also survived by many dear friends including Ellen Miner and Gerda Beckstein, and the Robinson family who considered Dick their second father and Opa. Besides his parents, Dick is preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Nelson and Nellie Shields and George and Lucy Wales, and his best friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson, Lloyd and Rose Gustafson, and Margarethe Dzierla.
As his mother prepares his welcome and his friends wait for his heavenly arrival, on earth, as she squeezed his hand, he gazed one last time into the beautiful green eyes of his wife and slips away. She lost a partner, but gained another vigilant guardian angel. As he arrives to the room prepared for him, you can almost hear him speak his famous line, "It's a hell of a deal."
"Opa"
A comfortable easy chair remains empty, and the television switched off, for on December 21, 2015, Florence Shields prepared a heavenly party. The veal shanks were cooked perfectly, and a minced meat pie cooled. After an absence of 53 years she wanted to bring her little boy home.
Richard "Dick" Dorrell Shields was born in Rockford, Illinois on February 12, 1930. He was the only child of the late Dorrell "Bud" Shields and Florence (Wales) Shields. He was a graduate of West High School. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent during the Korean Conflict. Following the death of his mother in 1962, he left Illinois to be with his best friends Lloyd and Rose Gustafson and settled in Modesto.
In August 1963, he met the love of his life, Margaret (Kleber) Stallone. Following a whirlwind courtship, they married in Carson City, Nevada on October 11, 1963, witnessed by Margaret's closest friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson. For the next half a century, Dick worked in sales until his final retirement at age 80 in 2010.
Dick and Margaret traveled extensively, mostly to Margaret's homeland of Austria. Besides being with family, the Shields spent most of their free time with their best friends the Robinsons and the Gustafsons. They enjoyed many happy evenings at the Shields' residence. Dick always enjoyed a good time, and was known for his amazing story-telling abilities and comic timing
Left to mourn his passing is the lady who lived in her eyes, his beloved wife of 52 years, Margaret Shields of Modesto. He also survived by his daughters, Sonja (Steve) Sher of Fresno, CA and Linda (Michael) Seymour of Turlock, CA. He leaves his children, Linda (Bart) Paul of Rockford, Il, Pamela (Eugene) Surmo of Cherry Valley, Il, Danny Hensley of Norco, CA, Lori (Joe) Tarara of Rockford, Il. He was a treasured Opa to Teresa (Adam) Fiss, David Seymour, and Matthew Seymour, as well as two-great grandchildren Lance and Juliana Fiss. Dick is also survived by the following grandchildren; Amy Marie and Brian Paul, Chad (Tracy) and Katie Surmo, Danny, David, and Mark Hensley, and Antonino Tarara, and two-great grandchildren, Mason and Gavvin Surmo. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves his brother-in-law Engelbert (Theresia) Kleber and sister-in-law Anna Kleber all of Austria. He is also survived by many dear friends including Ellen Miner and Gerda Beckstein, and the Robinson family who considered Dick their second father and Opa. Besides his parents, Dick is preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Nelson and Nellie Shields and George and Lucy Wales, and his best friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson, Lloyd and Rose Gustafson, and Margarethe Dzierla.
As his mother prepares his welcome and his friends wait for his heavenly arrival, on earth, as she squeezed his hand, he gazed one last time into the beautiful green eyes of his wife and slips away. She lost a partner, but gained another vigilant guardian angel. As he arrives to the room prepared for him, you can almost hear him speak his famous line, "It's a hell of a deal."
A comfortable easy chair remains empty, and the television switched off, for on December 21, 2015, Florence Shields prepared a heavenly party. The veal shanks were cooked perfectly, and a minced meat pie cooled. After an absence of 53 years she wanted to bring her little boy home.
Richard "Dick" Dorrell Shields was born in Rockford, Illinois on February 12, 1930. He was the only child of the late Dorrell "Bud" Shields and Florence (Wales) Shields. He was a graduate of West High School. Following graduation, he entered the Air Force and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent during the Korean Conflict. Following the death of his mother in 1962, he left Illinois to be with his best friends Lloyd and Rose Gustafson and settled in Modesto.
In August 1963, he met the love of his life, Margaret (Kleber) Stallone. Following a whirlwind courtship, they married in Carson City, Nevada on October 11, 1963, witnessed by Margaret's closest friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson. For the next half a century, Dick worked in sales until his final retirement at age 80 in 2010.
Dick and Margaret traveled extensively, mostly to Margaret's homeland of Austria. Besides being with family, the Shields spent most of their free time with their best friends the Robinsons and the Gustafsons. They enjoyed many happy evenings at the Shields' residence. Dick always enjoyed a good time, and was known for his amazing story-telling abilities and comic timing
Left to mourn his passing is the lady who lived in her eyes, his beloved wife of 52 years, Margaret Shields of Modesto. He also survived by his daughters, Sonja (Steve) Sher of Fresno, CA and Linda (Michael) Seymour of Turlock, CA. He leaves his children, Linda (Bart) Paul of Rockford, Il, Pamela (Eugene) Surmo of Cherry Valley, Il, Danny Hensley of Norco, CA, Lori (Joe) Tarara of Rockford, Il. He was a treasured Opa to Teresa (Adam) Fiss, David Seymour, and Matthew Seymour, as well as two-great grandchildren Lance and Juliana Fiss. Dick is also survived by the following grandchildren; Amy Marie and Brian Paul, Chad (Tracy) and Katie Surmo, Danny, David, and Mark Hensley, and Antonino Tarara, and two-great grandchildren, Mason and Gavvin Surmo. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves his brother-in-law Engelbert (Theresia) Kleber and sister-in-law Anna Kleber all of Austria. He is also survived by many dear friends including Ellen Miner and Gerda Beckstein, and the Robinson family who considered Dick their second father and Opa. Besides his parents, Dick is preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Nelson and Nellie Shields and George and Lucy Wales, and his best friends Edmund and Margunde Robinson, Lloyd and Rose Gustafson, and Margarethe Dzierla.
As his mother prepares his welcome and his friends wait for his heavenly arrival, on earth, as she squeezed his hand, he gazed one last time into the beautiful green eyes of his wife and slips away. She lost a partner, but gained another vigilant guardian angel. As he arrives to the room prepared for him, you can almost hear him speak his famous line, "It's a hell of a deal."
