William Paul Shield

William Paul Shield, age 87 of St. Clair Shores, died Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. He was born September 8, 1928 in Detroit, son of the late Paul & Mary Shield.With thanks & praise from a grateful nation, we pay homage to William for his service to our country during the Korean War era. Receiving his commission as Ensign on July 13, 1951, he would go on to serve in our great U.S. Navy for the next 3 years extending the utmost in pride and patriotism in preserving the cause of freedom,…for America, as well as our friends overseas. He received his honorable discharge from active duty on November 16, 1954, and went on to serve in the Retired Reserves until April 1, 1966. For answering the call to duty with honor, and in recognition of his valiant service record, we honor William now and forevermore.Simply looking at his photo, it's not hard to imagine that William possessed an extraordinary personality that permeated the heart & soul of everyone he met. Known for having a robust and infectious laugh, it just made sense that his career path would involve sales. Working within the manufacturing realm, William was not only extremely successful in carrying out his work,…but he absolutely loved his job. When he was not at work, he was usually tinkering with something to keep busy. To his family and friends, William was the consummate Mr. Fix-It and prided himself on having the ability to repair & restore most anything. He was also quite the teacher and mentor to many of the youth that crossed his path. He found great reward in helping them learn and grow,…and was happy to guide them on the finer points of "doing stuff." Having sailed the ocean blue in a naval vessel, it's no surprise that one of William's favorite pastimes was boating,…just a bit on a smaller scale, of course. And he was obviously attracted to the water as one of his treasured escapes was to the family cottage in Ludington,…one of Michigan's jewels on the coast of Lake Michigan. Later in life, William joined the ranks of Michigan's Snowbird's and exchanged the wintry mix of the Mitten for the warmth of the Sunshine State by flocking to his Florida residence at Siesta Key. Whether north or south, he always enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially when it was near the water. And a story of William just wouldn't be complete without mentioning his love of playing card games. The two things most Michiganders covet,…their love of the Great Lakes, and the joy of cards,…and William had 'em covered!A loving husband, father and grandfather, William leaves a legacy of love for all to cherish who were blessed to know this wonderful man. He touched a multitude of hearts and lives in his journey through life, and he always gave with the heart of a servant. May his memory be a warm reflection,…and may he, now, rest in peace. He will be missed immensely and loved eternally. William was the beloved husband of the late Sara "Sally". Loving father of Bill (Mickey) Shield, Jim (Jodie) Shield, Mary Kay (Brad) Barton, and the late Dave (Cathy) Shield. Devoted grandfather of Christina, Trey, Lauren, Jennifer, Tim, JJ, Tucker, Michael, Benjamin, Tenley, Ethan, Samuel, and great-grandfather of Evelyn Jane and Maggie Rose. Mr. Shield will lie in state Saturday, October 31st from 9:30 am until time of his Funeral Mass at 10:00 am at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, 21120 Benjamin St., St. Clair Shores, MI 48081. Memorial donations are welcomed to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 4440 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48207.Arrangements have been entrusted to the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home in Warren, Michigan. Please share memories of Mr. Shield at his memory book above.