James David Shields, 78, of Sherwood Township, died Sunday, June 9, 2019 at Select Specialty Hospital in Battle Creek.
A funeral will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City. Interment will follow at Burlington Cemetery. Following the interment, a luncheon will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Union City.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2019 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Lighthouse in Union City.
James was born on October 6, 1940 in Findlay, Ohio. He was raised by his mother and step-father in Litchfield. The family owned a Texaco filling station in Jonesville and James attended school in Litchfield. The family moved to Bronson before James finished school. After high school James lived in Coldwater for several years before settling in Sherwood at Union Lake in 1980.
He was married to Doris (Messer) Lamborn for many years and James was a father to his step-son Tim Lamborn. Doris preceded James in death on April 26, 2012.
James was a hard-working man. When he was younger, he was a bartender at the bar in Hodunk and he worked for a crew building communications towers. He was employed by American Woodcraft in Union City, but the job he was most proud of driving truck. He was a truck driver for about 30 years and earned several awards for his service to the trucking company.
After many days of being on the road, James loved to return home to Union Lake, where he could relax with all of his dear friends and do a little fishing to unwind. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed trips to the casino.
In the last several years of his life he and Rosemary Shaffer became friends after his many visits to Jack’s Grocery and a little nudge from her. She asked him to take her to the senior dance. James was Roesmary’s “sweetheart” and he loved to call her his “darling.” The couple was married on June 16, 2016 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
In addition to his wife, James is survived by his step-son Tim (Janet) Lamborn of Elkhart, IN, his grandchildren; Courtney Lamborn of New Jersey and James Lamborn of Grand Rapids, and Rosemary’s children; Cindy (Bill) Fox, Dennis (Cindy) Shaffer and John (Deana) Shaffer, all of Union City.
He was preceded in death by his mother, his step-father, his son, his first wife and two brothers.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.
