“Regardless of what has happened, or will happen, I’m going to do my
damnedest to leave this world totally exhausted and with a great big
smile on my face.”
Sally Sally Sally: The Memoirs of Roger Shields (c. 2011).
Roger William Shields was born on July 12, 1938, in Winfield, KS. He died on June
27, 2022, at the age of 83, in Topeka, KS, where he resided for the last
2 years of his life.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Robert Shields and Marguerite Shields.
Roger’s mother meant everything to him. Marguerite loved him
fiercely and as such, held Roger to high standards. She often pushed him
to rise up to the level of potential she saw in him. Always a doting
mother, when Roger would give his little sister rides on his Cushman
Scooter, their mother would simply yell at Karen to “hang on tightly” as
she watched the kids go up and down the street. Roger’s mother passed
away in 1989 at the age of 80.
Roger was only 20 years-old when his father died in 1958. While they
did not have time to deepen their relationship in all the ways Roger
had hoped for, one special memory he often shared was of giving his
father one final shave in the hospital shortly before William’s passing.
Roger leaves behind six children to cherish his memory - Terry
Shields and wife Sharon, Randy Shields and wife Jerri, Gary Shields and
wife Angela, Dawn Shields and husband Thomas Krannawitter, Mark Shields
and wife Rebecca, and Jessica Gottschalk and husband Luke. He is also
survived by his brother, Bob Shields and wife Maxine, and his sister
Karen Keady: as well as many beloved grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
Roger spent his childhood primarily in Winfield, KS. He began
working at the early age of 12, but he found his lifelong career in
computer programming at the age of 20. He spent most of his career
working with IBM, but his greatest professional achievement was starting
his company, Bankers Own Software Systems (B.O.S.S.).
Roger’s adult years were spent in Ponca City, OK, Wichita, KS, and
Hays, KS, but some of his fondest memories were his years living on the
Plaza in Kansas City. Incredibly proud of his Irish heritage, he
attended the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade every year. Roger
loved music of all types, but especially blues and jazz. Many of his
Kansas City nights were spent enjoying live music at Knuckleheads. Golf
was also one of his hobbies, and in 1999, he and his son Randy played
the round of a lifetime at St. Andrews in Scotland. At the age of 15,
Roger discovered what would be a life-long passion for automobiles with a
particular interest in classic cars. Roger also loved the Kansas City
Chiefs and was a season-ticket holder for many years.
Roger always said his children were his biggest blessing. He was immensely proud of them.
The family will be holding a private service at a later date.