Robert L. Shields

Robert L. 'Bob' Shields was born September 1, 1931, at Ottawa, in Franklin County, Kansas. He was the son of Ted and Dorothy (Bruce) Shields. Bob grew up on a farm outside of Wellsville, Kansas. He lived briefly in Paola, Kansas, following his marriage, and moved to Ottawa in 1959, where he made his home until his death Thursday, March 6, 2003, at the age of seventy-one years. Bob graduated from Wellsville High School with the class of 1949. He achieved Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1966. Following high school, he was involved in farming and then worked for Sunflower Ordinance Works in DeSoto. He was a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual Life in Ottawa for forty-five years. He was a member and past president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, life member of Million Dollar Round Table, and member of the American College of Life Underwriters, Eastern Kansas Estate Planning Council, and Million Dollar Round Table Foundation Knight. He served in the Naval Reserve. He was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, where he served as Elder; Westminster Presbyterian Church Development Corporation, President and Secretary; Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors; Ottawa Rotary Club, Past President and Trustee for the Ottawa Rotary Foundation; Co-Chairman Fundraiser, Ottawa Boy's Club; Chairman, United Way Fund; Chairman, Ottawa University Fund Raiser; Committee to Save the Auditorium; Wellsville Lodge #356, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons; Scottish Rite of Lawrence; and, Abdallah Temple of Overland Park. On September 20, 1954, Bob was united in marriage with Melva Jane Folks at Wellsville, Kansas. She survives of their home. Bob was very proud of his wife, their four daughters and sons-in-law, and adored his grandchildren. His friends admired him for his ability to achieve a balance between his family and career. A frequent boater, he often took his family on houseboat jaunts on Perry Lake. When his daughters were young, he enjoyed teaching them and their friends how to ski at Lake Pomona. He was very caring and considerate. He took an active interest in the community and worked hard in all of the organizations he was involved in and committees he served on. He cared about the success of Ottawa University and led a campaign to raise money for the University in the late 1970's. Bob is survived by four daughters, Julie Quinn and her husband, Mike, of Grenada, West Indies, Janet Murphy and her husband, Rick Eggemeyer, of Jacksonville, Florida, Joan Wiley and her husband, Bryn, of Derby, Kansas, Lorie Weaver and her husband, James, of Junction City, Kansas; brother, Dennis Shields and his wife, Burndine, of Wellsville, Kansas; sister, Mona Murphy and her husband, Bob, of Wellsville, Kansas; ten grandchildren, Jacob, Ryan, Samantha, Andrew, Andrea, Alexandra, Brandon, Kathryn, Sarah, Zachary; and, many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Matthew. SERVICES: Celebration of Life Service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2003. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Rev. Henry A. Roberts, Jr., Rev. Clifford E. Burke IN STATE: Mr. Shields donated his body to University of Kansas Medical School, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Midland Hospice, American Heart or Diabetes Association, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.