OBITUARY John Joseph Shields Jr. October 8, 1930 – September 24, 2018 John (Johnny, Junior) J. Shields, Jr. born in the Irish Channel Oct. 8, 1930 entered eternal rest in the comfort of his home on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in his 88th year. He was preceded in death by his parents Wilhelmina Gerard Shields and John J. Shields, Jr., his stepfather Joseph J. Feno and daughter JoAnn Shields Glancy.
He was 16 yrs. old when his love of football began at LSU. After 3 years, his schooling was interrupted by 4 years of service in the US Air Force.
During the Korean War he was stationed on Guam, and went, to Japan where he won 1st place medals in Track and Field in the Far East. He was proud of being in the semi-pro Ted Hickey Football League as a fullback. In the 1960s, he started the first Track Program at the Terrytown Recreation Center, coaching both track and football there for over ten years.
As their football coach, he opened his home to all boys and set up a weight program for each one in his garage. Johnny was a self-taught man who spoke Italian, could read music, and play guitar, bass, keyboard and the glockenspiel. He also played the coronet at Live Oak Grammar School.
He was an electronic technician and later worked at ILA Local 3000, at the Myrtle Grove Grain Elevator until his retirement. He was a member of American Legion Post 137 and The Wellness Senior Center in Gretna. He loved sports and was an avid LSU and Saints fan, preferring to watch the games at home with family and friends.
He was a complex man, a homebody, passionate in all he did, and you would never have had a better man for a friend. You could always rely on his word. He kept it.
A longtime parishioner of Christ the King in Terrytown, he organized the “Troubadours of the King” choir, played keyboard, bass and wrote many arrangements for the group who served for First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, and funerals. The choir also represented CTK at HEC retreats, Engagement and Marriage Encounters, Magnificat Breakfasts, and Catholic conferences in the New Orleans area. He was a recipient of the Order of St. Louis Award in 1990.
Johnny is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathleen Bourdet Shields, his son Sean A. Shields, daughters Hope Shields Noto and Kelley Shields Keeney (Neil); nine grandchildren Danielle, Tara and Jay Glancey, Amy Noto, Sean A. Shields Jr, (Celeste), Ian Shields (Oanh), Rosary Shields and Katie and Joseph Caldwell, seven great-grandchildren: Shane, Emily, Noah, Madyson and Ava Marie Shields, Benjamin Carvalho and John Tran Shields. The brother-in-law of Marilyn B. Martinez, he is also survived by many cousins with whom he was close. We are grateful to our friend Willie Rigney, Tremeka LeBlanc and the exceptional Heart of Hospice staff who provided him with such competent, loving care during his illness.
Relatives and friends are invited to a traditional wake at Westside Funeral Home 5101 West Bank Expressway, Marrero, LA from 5-9:00 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2018 and the Mass of Christian Burial at Christ the King, 535 Deerfield Rd. , Terrytown, LA at 11:00 am on Friday, September 28, 2018 with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Online condolences available at www.
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