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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- A local businessman traced his roots to the vikings and wanted to honor his heritage when he died. Arne Shield passed away in March at 85, and his family fulfilled his dream last week: They placed his cremated remains on a papier-mache boat, touched a flame to it and set the burning craft adrift in the gathering darkness of West Grand Traverse Bay.
"This was his wish, to go out to sea in a burning ship," daughter Betty Carden told the Traverse City Record-Eagle for a story published Monday. "He loved the water."
More than 60 relatives and in-laws showed up for a family reunion that served as Shield's farewell ceremony.
After a brief prayer service and a Swedish smorgasbord, they placed his ashes in the small boat constructed from chokecherry branches and 40 copies of the Record-Eagle.
To the strains of "Amazing Grace," family members launched the flaming craft.
Daughter Barbara Shield and friend Joe Vinson spent two weeks creating the ship, shaping and decorating it with reminders of Shield.
Among the items that sailed with Shield's remains were flags of the United States and Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, as well as a copy of the 23rd Psalm and Shield's recipe for Swedish pancakes.
Born Sven Arne Skold in Stockholm, Sweden, Shield came to the United States on July 4, 1922 and thought New York's fireworks display was in his honor. Shield settled with his family in Traverse City, where his mother operated Shield's Cafe.
Over the years Shield became a well-known Traverse City figure, working as a cook and restaurateur, operator of the Traverse City Golf and Country Club, a dunemobile driver at the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, manager of the Holiday Hills ski resort and, finally, owner and operator of Shield's Restaurant and its tavern, The Keller.
He honed his love of the water through service in the Merchant Marines and spent years as a member of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary, Carden said.
