Michael Keith Shields, age 73, of Oskaloosa, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2026. Mike was born August 17, 1953, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Max and Marilyn (Allgood) Shields. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1971. On June 17, 1989, Mike married Linda Sue Powell at Fairview Church of the Brethren in Unionville, Iowa.
Mike was a lifetime golfer, having learned the sport from his dad, Max. And at the age of 13 he learned another skill from his dad—the art of keeping greens trimmed and meticulous. There wasn’t a fairway that Mike couldn’t mow and water into perfection. He started his days early and was the last of the crew to leave. He superintended golf courses and country clubs including Ottumwa Municipal, Ottumwa, Iowa; Bloomfield Country Club, Bloomfield, Iowa; Hillwood Country Club, Nashville, Tennessee; Oak Meadow Golf Club, Evansville, Indiana; and courses in Jefferson City, Missouri and Fairfield, Iowa. He was a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association.
Spiritually grounded, Mike played guitar and was a songwriter. In conversations he would come up with a quote of a lyric, a poet, or a philosopher, often quoting Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Henry David Thoreau, and Dan Fogelberg. While in Nashville he spent time as a songwriter at the House of Cash. He was known for his integrity, kindness, patience, and selflessness.
Mike and Linda loved to take walks, visiting trails, golf courses, and Freedom Rocks at county courthouses around Iowa.
Mike is fondly remembered by his wife Linda; brother Steve (Julie) Shields; sister Becky (Steve) Gearhart; nieces Lauren (Matt) Hubbell, and Rachael (Jeff) Clutter; nephew Ben (Anna) Gearhart; great nephews Landon and Logan Hubbell, and Asher and Abram Gearhart; and great niece Paisley Clutter; mother-in-law Patty Powell; sisters-in-law Diana (Bill) Nutt, and Janet Powell; nephews Kelly and Ryan Nutt, and Jerod Powell; and two black Labrador retriever mixes, Jake and Jojo.
He was preceded in death by his parents Marilyn and Max, nephew Sam Gearhart, father-in-law Orris Powell, and brother-in-law Jerry Powell.
A private family gathering will be held at a later date. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation (MCRF), 2019 Stadium Drive, Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577.
