John Phillip Shiels

John Shiels, age 79 and a native San Franciscan, passed away the evening of November 27, 2025 at his home in Sonoma, California after a short illness and surrounded by his family. John was born June 19, 1946 and grew up in the Westwood Park area of San Francisco. He attended St. Emydius School and Archbishop Riordan High School, class of 1964. He graduated from San Francisco State in 1969 and served in the Army Reserves. John began a career in sales at Conklin Brothers Carpet in San Francisco in 1972, spending fifty years there before retiring as Senior Vice President in 2022. He married his wife Kathy in 1980, starting a family together and proudly raising his two children as native San Franciscans in his footsteps. He was a member of the Olympic Club for over 58 years where he made many lasting friendships, spent hours in his pursuit of physical perfection, and enjoyed countless meals with friends at the club. 

In retirement John and Kathy moved to Sonoma where he adapted to "country" living, volunteering at the Redwood Empire Food Bank, driving a weekly route for Meals on Wheels, and playing Bocce Ball at St. Leo's Church where he was a member. John loved to travel with Kathy; in recent years they traveled the globe together extensively visiting places like Southeast Asia and Egypt. He especially loved visiting Ireland, his father's birthplace and home to many cousins. 

John is preceded in death by his parents, Hugh Shiels and Mary Shiels. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathleen Hartnett Shiels; his son, Gavin Shiels (wife Britta Shiels) of Sebastopol, CA, and his daughter, Mary Shiels Mendez (wife Rosalani Mendez) of San Francisco; his brother, Ed Shiels (wife Becky Shiels) of San Francisco; his adored grandchildren, Lachlan Shiels and Stellan Shiels; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family he loved very much. 

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at St. Leo's Church (601 W. Agua Caliente Rd) in Sonoma, CA. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa, CA or Meals on Wheels of Sonoma.

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