The Reverend Dr. Dean Schield completed his earthly journey in the early morning of June 25, 2021, after a six-month battle with health issues. Dean was born on May 20, 1936 to Russell Clark Schield and Mary Magdalene (Toth) Schield in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
Dean is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sandra Kay (Loveland) Schield; two sons and daughters-in-law; Bradley Clark Schield and Audrey (Seibold) Schield, Modesto, CA and Jay Russell Schield and Laura (Cobble) Schield, Franklin, TN; sister, Dawn Yuvonne (Schield) Ogan, Loveland, CO; nephew, Joseph Henry (Joe) Blanchard, Jr., Loveland, CO; brother-in-Law, Paul Douglas (Doug) Lemen, Westlake Village, CA; niece, Vanessa Mary (Lemen) Jahn and husband Colin Jahn, Los Angeles, CA; two grand-nephews, Micah Douglas Jahn and Lincoln Silas Jahn, Los Angeles, CA and several aunts and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Janice Lavonne (Schield) Lemen.
Dean graduated from Brookings High School in Brookings, South Dakota. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Anderson College and Theological Seminary (now Anderson University) in Anderson, IN, and he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon.
Having been ordained a minister of the Church of God in 1960, he served churches as Minister of Music, Youth Pastor and Senior Pastor in Liberal, Kansas; Pomona, California; Dayton, Ohio; Casper, Wyoming, and Modesto, California. He founded and directed the musical group, "The Singing Servants," in Southern California, and for ten years, he produced and directed The Singing Servants and Orchestra in the annual Good Friday Service at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale, CA) in the Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection.
The Western States Classic Softball Tournament was started by Dean in Modesto, CA in the early 1990's and still continues today. Softball teams from the western United States gather in Modesto over Labor Day weekend for this special tournament. The highlight of the weekend is when all of the teams come together for a special Sunday morning worship service and gather on the platform to sing "Amazing Grace."
Dean sang with the Christian Brothers Quartet (Ron & Carolyn Patty, Doug Oldham, and Ernie Gross) in
concerts throughout the United States. He authored a church resource book entitled "More Effective Choir Ministry," and he served as worship leader, speaker and conference leader both nationally and internationally. Dean enjoyed traveling the world and led several tour groups attending the World Conferences of the Church of God. He served 14 years on the Mass Communications Board of the Church of God for the international radio broadcast, Christian Brotherhood Hour, now known as Christians Broadcasting Hope, and was producer and host for several years.
In retirement, Dean and Sandra moved from Northern California to Middle Tennessee to be closer to their grandsons. Papa Dean did not miss an opportunity to watch them play baseball and other sports. His great joy and delight was to be a part of their lives in all their activities and achievements. Dean served the Rockvale Church of God in Rockvale, TN as worship leader and interim pastor. He enjoyed participating in the Praise Chapel Choir at Church of the City, Franklin, TN, and he sang with the Stereo Praise Quartet. Dean enjoyed playing tennis (in his younger days) and was on the golf course weekly throughout retirement.
Dean loved the Lord, his family and the church. He was passionate about communicating the Gospel of Christ through various methods - music, drama, sports, and the spoken Word. He was grateful for the many opportunities he had to minister in great churches, directing the congregation in singing hymns and songs of the church as they praised God. Dean Schield has been "directing" people to God throughout his whole life.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2021, 11:00 AM CST at Church of the City, 828 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, TN 37064. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the international radio ministry of Christians Broadcasting Hope, Church of God Ministries, P.O, Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018.
Service Information
Saturday, July 10th, 2021 11:00am, Church of the City-Franklin