Patrick Shields

Mar 17, 1957 -

Sep 4, 2025

Patrick "Pat" Allen Shields, age 68, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 4, 2025, from complications of lymphoma and colon cancer. Pat was born on March 17, 1957, in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Elmer C Beverly Shields (Derr).

Along with all five of his siblings, Pat attended grades 1-12 at the Clark Fork school complex in Clark Fork, Idaho, graduating from high school as a Wampus Cat in 1975. Playing sports was always an important part of his life, from childhood through to college, baseball and golf, followed by coaching his son's baseball and basketball teams.

Pat pursued a B.S. degree in wildlife management from the University of Idaho in 1980. He met his wife Lea Weatherford-Yount in 1980, in Trestle Creek, Idaho. They were married in 1981, then off to Alaska they went where Lea's dad and stepmom, Pete C. Jeannie Weatherford, lived. Pat would spend the better part of 38 years working for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Fishery Biologist, with many of those years involved in management of the highly controversial Upper Cook Inlet commercial fishery. All three of Pat and Lea's children were born in Alaska.

Pat derived joy from many things in this life, but his greatest satisfaction came from doing these things with friends and family. Case in point, Aug. 20, 2020: no attempt was made to hide the tears of joy when Pat came upon Joel kneeling with a moose on Kalgin Island, holding Pat's Dad's Springfield M1903 rifle. Pat loved his time both playing and commentating on sports with his son Kaleb, as well as listening to his daughter Kelsey sing.

Pat and Lea always grew large gardens, where Pat earned the nickname, "Potato Pat," because of his 1,000lb spud harvests each year. After Pat retired in 2020, he and Lea continued to live quiet and peaceful days together in their Kasilof home gardening, gathering firewood, walking the dog, embarking on new building projects, and creating a place of stability and peace for their children and grandchildren.

When he wasn't busy enjoying life with his own family, Pat could often be found delivering firewood to those that needed it, plowing driveways, teaching Sunday school at Kasilof Community Church, fixing cars and computers and, in recent years, riding his fat bike.

Pat is survived by his wife, Lea Shields; son, Joel (Kumi); son, Kaleb (Renee); daughter, Kelsey (Spencer); and two - nearly three - grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at Peninsula Grace Church on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at 2 p.m.