A 17-year-old junior at Eisenhower High School, Quinnlan Shields, tragically lost his life in a car accident on Monday, March 17, 2025.
Quinnlan Shields is survived by his father, Lieutenant James Shields, a 30-year New Berlin Fire Department veteran & former president of Local 4724, and his younger brother, Gavin Shields.
Likewise, the young athlete also leaves behind Shanna Eckberg, his father’s partner. However, it remains unclear if she is Quinlan Shields’ biological mother.
His father, Jason Shields, is a Lieutenant/Paramedic at the New Berlin Fire Department. The respected firefighter and union leader has served New Berlin for decades.
A native of New Berlin, Wisconsin, Jason studied Fire Administration BS at Columbia Southern University.
Quinnlan Shields took pride in his father’s service and often joined him at the station. Above all, Quinn cherished spending time with his family.
The conditions of the fatal collision are being investigated, and authorities have not released a full report.
In the meantime, his family hasn’t announced funeral arrangements and further memorial details in the coming days.
Quinnlan Shields Excelled Both as a Guard and Nose Guard on Eisenhower High School’s Boys’ Varsity Football Team!
Known affectionately as Quinn, Quinnlan Shields was a key player on Eisenhower High School’s Boys Varsity Football team, proudly wearing jersey #70 as a guard and nose guard.
Standing at 5’4” and weighing 220 lbs, Shields excelled academically and was enrolled in a dual enrollment engineering program.
His passions extended to golf, bowling, robotics, hunting, and music; he was often spotted enjoying concerts with friends.
Meanwhile, New Berlin Local 4724, in partnership with the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation, Inc., has launched an official donation page to assist the Shields family, writing:
Our hearts are broken. Any support will help ease the burden on Jason and his family as they navigate this devastating loss.
The hashtag #Forever70 is now a sign of his legacy, linked to the jersey number he proudly sported.