GRANT WILLIAM SHIELDS passed away peacefully, surround by family, on March 23, 2017 in Lethbridge, AB at the age of 91 years. He was born in Lethbridge, AB to William Clyde (Bill) and Emma Lulu (Lu) Shields. He was the eighth of ten children and grew up on the family homestead in Shaughnessy, AB with his brothers and sisters. Grant served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, and his country by training in the Canadian Army. Gratefully the war ended just before he was deployed overseas. Grant met and married his first wife, Rita LeBaron, and they raised their eight children, initially in Shaughnessy, then in Diamond City, AB for several years.
Grant was a voracious reader, likely one of perhaps a very small number of people who read an entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica - more than once. He was an incredibly hard worker and had a passion for helping others, any way he could, whether he knew them or not. Having grown up during the lean years of the early 1900s he was a collector of “reusable items”. He had a passion for facts and family history – all of which he retained in his head and could pull out in an instant when asked. Grant always had an interest in gardening. It was a vegetable garden in the early years when produce was needed for family use. Over time he fell in love with peonies, exotic irises, and amaryllis, along with just about anything else that came out of the ground and produced a colorful bloom – unless it was a weed! In his later years Grant became a guerilla gardener and received community acclaim in both Cardston, AB and Barons, AB for beautifying abandoned lots and road allowances. He was also primary “care-giver” of the Humane Society garden created by the family in memory of their brother, Gary and mother, Rita.
Grant is survived by his children Ronald (Diana), Lana (Everett) Vandesteeg, Philip, Kathryn, Cameron (Judy), Marie (Ben) Matkin, Curtis (Michelle), 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-laws, Darlene Rudolph-Shields and LeAnne Matherly, numerous nieces and nephews (and their children), wonderful close friends and his special fur-kid, Alaska Lynn. He was predeceased by an infant great-granddaughter, Merida, infant grandson, Shane, son, Gary, first wife, friend and mother of his children, Rita LeBaron Penney, and his second wife Bevelyn Rosenhan. Grant is survived by a sister, Barbara (Dahl, deceased) Davidson (AB), brother, Russell (Dottie, deceased) Shields (CA) and in-laws, Esmae' (Wallace, deceased) Shields (NV), Jeanette (Elden, deceased) Shields (CA) and Marilyn (Dennis Hancock; Don, both deceased) Mosher (WA). He was predeceased by his parents William Clyde (Bill) and Emma LuLu (Lu) Shields (nee Brown) and siblings, Leland (Florence) Shields, Clyde (Estill; Marcia) Shields, Ned (Thelma) Shields, Morris (Bessie) Shields, Elden (Jeanette, surviving) Shields, LuLu Daisy (infant) Shields, and Kenneth Wallace (Esmae', surviving) Shields.
Funeral Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS CHAPEL, (175 Rocky Mtn. Blvd., West), Lethbridge, Alberta, on Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Friends may meet the family from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to: www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to the Lethbridge & District Humane Society or a charity of one’s choice.
His was a life filled full. See ya, Pop-Tart!
LEGACY FUNERAL HOMES LTD., CARDSTON Assisting the Family. Phone 403-653-3222.
Grant was a voracious reader, likely one of perhaps a very small number of people who read an entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica - more than once. He was an incredibly hard worker and had a passion for helping others, any way he could, whether he knew them or not. Having grown up during the lean years of the early 1900s he was a collector of “reusable items”. He had a passion for facts and family history – all of which he retained in his head and could pull out in an instant when asked. Grant always had an interest in gardening. It was a vegetable garden in the early years when produce was needed for family use. Over time he fell in love with peonies, exotic irises, and amaryllis, along with just about anything else that came out of the ground and produced a colorful bloom – unless it was a weed! In his later years Grant became a guerilla gardener and received community acclaim in both Cardston, AB and Barons, AB for beautifying abandoned lots and road allowances. He was also primary “care-giver” of the Humane Society garden created by the family in memory of their brother, Gary and mother, Rita.
Grant is survived by his children Ronald (Diana), Lana (Everett) Vandesteeg, Philip, Kathryn, Cameron (Judy), Marie (Ben) Matkin, Curtis (Michelle), 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-laws, Darlene Rudolph-Shields and LeAnne Matherly, numerous nieces and nephews (and their children), wonderful close friends and his special fur-kid, Alaska Lynn. He was predeceased by an infant great-granddaughter, Merida, infant grandson, Shane, son, Gary, first wife, friend and mother of his children, Rita LeBaron Penney, and his second wife Bevelyn Rosenhan. Grant is survived by a sister, Barbara (Dahl, deceased) Davidson (AB), brother, Russell (Dottie, deceased) Shields (CA) and in-laws, Esmae' (Wallace, deceased) Shields (NV), Jeanette (Elden, deceased) Shields (CA) and Marilyn (Dennis Hancock; Don, both deceased) Mosher (WA). He was predeceased by his parents William Clyde (Bill) and Emma LuLu (Lu) Shields (nee Brown) and siblings, Leland (Florence) Shields, Clyde (Estill; Marcia) Shields, Ned (Thelma) Shields, Morris (Bessie) Shields, Elden (Jeanette, surviving) Shields, LuLu Daisy (infant) Shields, and Kenneth Wallace (Esmae', surviving) Shields.
Funeral Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS CHAPEL, (175 Rocky Mtn. Blvd., West), Lethbridge, Alberta, on Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Friends may meet the family from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment in the Cardston Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to: www.legacyfuneralhome.ca
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to the Lethbridge & District Humane Society or a charity of one’s choice.
His was a life filled full. See ya, Pop-Tart!
LEGACY FUNERAL HOMES LTD., CARDSTON Assisting the Family. Phone 403-653-3222.