Obituary of Harold E. Shade

Harold E. Shade

Age 81, of Chicago, IL, passed away recently in his Dearborn Park II home.  He was born April 4, 1936 to the late Thelma and L.E. Shade in Pine Bluff, AR where he was raised and educated.  Harold was a proud United States Army Veteran and while serving his country out of Ft. Riley, KS, he became the first African American Military Policeman.
His storied life of “Service First” continued in the public sector as an administrator and educator with the Chicago Public School System.  He mentored many and always took the necessary time to help his students absorb and thrive.  A religious man who would often recite scripture from Revelations, Harold happily distributed Bibles from time to time encouraging others to “Live the Word.”

He was a talented baseball player who was proud of his playing days in the Negro Baseball League; however, what made him most proud and fulfilled was taking care of his Mother the last nine years of her life, as well as looking out and keeping safe the small children that frequently played near his home.

He will be remembered fondly by his friends and neighbors as a caring and charismatic man who enjoyed his life and all the people he met along the way.  He will also be missed by Theo, his loyal canine companion, as well as Nella, Fluffy and Darren Duke, his canines who have already passed on.

Funeral services for Harold E. Shade will be held on Friday, November 24, 2017 at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet, IL, where all friends and relatives may gather from 12:00 Noon until services begin at 1:00 p.m.  Interment with full Military Honors will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name can be made to PAWS of Chicago or the Animal Cruelty Society.  For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com