Kenneth D. Shields, aged 81, passed away peacefully July 30, 2023.

Born in Boston on June 4, 1942 he was the only child of Maybelle (Batchelder) and Ralph Kenneth Shields.  He is survived by his daughter Kimberly Shields, daughter Rachel Towne and husband John, their children Brian, Andrew, Benjamin and step grand-daughter Cory Towne-Kerr and family, and daughter Laurie Vachon and husband Robert, their children Hannah and Holden.  He is pre-deceased by his wife Louise and son Darren.

He grew up in Lynn, MA and then Middleton, MA.  He attended the Essex Agricultural School.  He enjoyed singing and he met his wife during practice sessions of a production of the play Oklahoma!  He married Louise B. Proctor in 1962 and moved to Rowley, MA.  They honeymooned in Alton Bay and loved New Hampshire.  While living in Rowley he and Louise attended church and made close and life long friends with the couples club members there.  He especially enjoyed camping with his friends.

The Shields family moved to New Durham, NH in 1974.  He worked for the New Durham Elementary School as the Head Custodian.  He was instrumental in unionizing the support staff.  He created extra learning opportunities for the children in so many ways from a greenhouse he built, a stargazing club he formed, and for many years informally teaching children how to play woodwind instruments.  Ken never read a note of music but could play any woodwind instrument by ear and this is how he taught the students.  He loved playing jazz.  He fostered that love of music in children, especially children who had the natural talent he did with playing by ear.

He was interested in gardening from large vegetable gardens producing a bounty that made it to the freezer and were canned for winter to amazing flower gardens and houseplants.  He also enjoyed walking in the woods and admiring (and naming) all the wildflowers and wildlife in the world.  He continued to name all the birds and plants and wildlife when sitting in the yard at Bellamy Fields were he lived for the last 18 months of his life.  He loved all his pets but he especially loved his dogs.

Ken will be remembered sailing.  From the humble beginnings in a canoe-sailboat conversion to a wooden turnabout he rescued and rehabbed and sailed to his beloved boat "A Tear and a Smile" named after Kahlil Gibran's book.  Many a friend spent time sailing with Ken.  The ocean or a lake were his favorite places to be.

Ken will be remembered with music.  Beyond his interest in woodwind instruments he developed a love for playing music on electric keyboards and would play out in public with his dear friend Kevin at many local events like senior dinners.

Ken will be remembered by the groups who frequented Sporto's Restaurant, hung around the New Durham General Store and played Cribbage with the club at the library which were the local haunts you might find him at.  He will be missed by his dear friend Mark Sennott who is the family Ken picked.

Ken will be missed.  Ken, Louise and their dog Reba were interviewed in a video segment of faith matters in July of 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/farmingtonnhfirstcongregational/videos/3631852443498120

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Ken & Louise Shields Music Fund.
Checks made payable to: New Durham Elementary School
Memo:  Ken and Louise Shields Music Fund
Or to the First Congregational Church of Farmington, NH

Service at the First Congregational Church of Farmington on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11:00 with a graveside service to follow at 12:30 at the John C. Shirley Memorial Cemetery, New Durham.

To express condolences, please visit:  www.peasleefuneralhome.com