Obit: Local Business Owner, Adventurer Dies In Snowmobile Crash

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL -- A McHenry County business owner who died after the snowmobile he was driving collided with a tree early Tuesday is being remembered as an adventurer and a "leader in search for any adrenaline rush." A funeral for Brandon Shields, 32, of Harvard, has been set for this Sunday, Jan. 27 at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard. A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. and will continue until the time of Shields' funeral service at 4 p.m., according to his obituary.

Shields is the founder and owner of Kid Shields Kustom Interiors in Harvard and those closest to Shields say he lived his short life to the fullest.

"No amount of written word would be enough to list all the places Brandon has been, things he’s done, and adventures he has had," according to his obituary. "Those closest to him knew they could usually find him working late into the night in his custom upholstery shop, making unforgettable memories with friends and family any day of the week, or recuperating from his adventures at home before heading right back out again."

His obituary goes on to describe Sheilds' personality and calls on those closest to him to continue his legacy through their actions and the way they live their lives:

Any person who has ever had the privilege of meeting Brandon would describe him in the same exact way. In short, he was the reason people came out instead of staying in, the creator of crazy times, the leader in a search for any adrenaline rush, and the light that shined on many of our darkest days. In the days, weeks, months, and lifetimes to come, we hope all who miss him and loved him will strive to be more like him: love each day, live each day, love each other, and most importantly, never stop creating your biggest adventure yet.

Meanwhile, Shields' customers have been posting photos of Shields' work.

Shields died after his snowmobile collided with a tree in the 4400 block of Pagles Road in Harvard, at 1:05 a.m. Tuesday. Shields was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:19 a.m. Shields was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to authorities.

An autopsy performed this past week revealed Shields died from blunt trauma to the head, spine, chest and abdomen. Toxicology samples have been sent to a forensic lab for testing, according to the McHenry County Coroner's Office.

The collision remains under investigation by Illinois Conservation Police and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK