Rolland Walter Shields

Rolland Walter Shields

Dec. 1, 1929-May 10, 2013

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Rolland Walter Shields, 83, of McCook passed away Friday, May 10, 2013, at the McCook Community Hospital.

Rolland was born on Dec. 1, 1929, in McCook, to William Glenn and Nellie Lenore (Phillips) Shields. Rolland helped on the family farm and graduated from McCook Senior High in 1947.

After graduation Rolland worked on the family farm for a few years but a call to the ministry and desire for higher education lead him to Lincoln. In 1954 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Cotner College and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL).

In 1955, while serving the First Christian Church in David City, Nebraska, he was ordained as a minister. He continued his education and religious service in Lexington, Kentucky where in 1958 he received a Bachelor of Divinity and then a Master of Theology from the College of the Bible. He returned to Nebraska where he served churches in both David City and Giltner. While serving those churches he also obtained a Master of Arts from UNL. He then moved to Iowa where he received a Master of Arts from the University and completed all the course work for a PhD in church history.

Rolland took a faculty position with the School of the Ozarks and met the love of his life, Rosemary. They were united in marriage on Aug. 10, 1969. The couple returned to McCook and were blessed with two daughters. Rolland worked at Dayco and also continued his ministry by serving as an interim pastor in a number of the surrounding communities. He was a devoted family man and loved to spend time with his family. He also enjoyed working in the garden/flower beds, attending musical productions, and spending time with the family pets.

Rolland was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nellie Shields, an infant sister, Dorthy, one brother, Marvin, one sister, Hazel Collins, and three brothers-in-law, Bill Collins, Richard McMurtry and Robert Patterson, and one sister-in-law, Linda Jamison.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary Shields of McCook; daughters, Christina Shields of Omaha and Regina Shields of Lincoln; brother, Harley and wife, Elda Shields, of McCook; sisters, Marjorie McMurtry of Lincoln and Maxine Patterson, of Lawrence, Kansas; sister in-law, Alvena and husband, Edwin Armstrong, of Lebanon, Missouri; special cousin, Mary Propp, of McCook, and a host of family and friends.

Visitation will be Monday, May 13, from 3-8 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared on-line at carpenterbreland.com. Memorials may be given in his name to the Parkinson's Foundation or the McCook Humane Society.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday May 14, 2013, at the McCook Christian Church with Pastor Clark Bates officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.