Tribute

As we say our goodbyes, we remember Leonard Roy William Shields born August 27, 1929 and passed quietly on January 18, 2023 at The Pines with his children at his side.

Leonard leaves behind his four children; Donald (Bev), Donna (her son Brendan), Robert (Linda), and Will (Michael). Len’s next generation includes twenty grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. He also leaves behind his Sister-in-laws Maggie Murphy of Nelson, Zena Milne of Victoria, the Clan Murdoch and locally his cousins were the Carol Fergus and Margie McLellan families.

Len spent his childhood in Trail BC, where he filled his time with Sea Cadets rowing and playing the base drum, playing goal for the BC Junior Champion Trail Smoker Eaters, Lacrosse and if he wasn’t skiing on Red Mountain, he was visiting his little cousin Carol Fergus.

Len started his career with the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (Cominco) in 1944 and worked 40 years as a lead burner. He met the love of his life Catherine and was married September 11, 1948. In 1952 while working on the construction of the Fertilizer Plant he moved his growing family to Kimberley.

Len was an eager community volunteer devoting many years of community service to raise funds for a variety of organizations and sports facilities including the ski hill, curling rink, and arena. He devoted 25 years with the 3^rd Kimberley Scout Troup as secretary/treasurer, almost 60 years with the Legion and a member of the Kimberley United Church since 1957. Check out the stained glass at the church. They are Len’s handy work.

As an avid curler he devoted countless hours to the sport and became the President of BC Curling Association and Honorary Life Member of Kimberley Curling Club. In addition to his love of curling, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, curling, golfing, and wildlife photography.

After retirement from Cominco, Len worked from coast to coast in his trade with Canada Metals finally calling it quits at age 75 so he and Catherine could travel. They enjoyed trips to England, Scotland and Ireland on a curling tour, golfing in the US, and countless trips down home to the Maritimes.

Len believed in honesty, loyalty, integrity, and hard work. It didn’t matter if you needed a basement dug, a new roof, or someone to hold your hand at the Pines, he was there for you with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. He will be missed.

Special thank you to his family at The Pines, Dr. DuPreez, his cousins the Fergus family, Gardenview Staff and anyone who brought him chocolate treats.

Len’s memorial service will be held at the United / Anglican Shared Ministries Church, 10 Boundary Street in Kimberley on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow in the hall.

A private Family Inurnment at the Kimberley Memorial Wall.

In Lieu of Flowers please consider donating to The Pines, Kimberley Food Bank or The United/Anglican Shared Ministry.