WAVERLY - A respected businessman and generous benefactor has died.

Wilbur Schield, co-founder of the Schield Bantam Co., passed away Wednesday at the Waverly Health Center. He was 98.

Those familiar with the longtime Waverly resident remember Schield as a successful entrepreneur who, with a brother, turned a small, Waverly truck-mounted crane company into a thriving manufacturing business with international dealers.

Family and friends considered Schield a friendly, unpretentious and unstructured man who used his resources and talents to help people, organizations and institutions in and outside of Waverly. Schield cared a great deal about his church and missions work, a son, Milo Schield of Roseville, Minn., said. And his father approached problems and needs from a businessman's perspective.

"He liked to make things happen," Milo Schield said. "He liked to see them happen for good ends."

The company founded by Wilbur Schield and the late Vern Schield in the '40s flourished shortly after World War II. Milo Schield said both brothers brought something important to the table: Vern built the cranes, and Wilbur built the company.

After selling more than 15,000 Bantams worldwide, the company sold to Koehring in 1963 and is now a part of Terex Cranes.

Former employees say the Schield brothers were kind to their employees, offering rides to and from work to those in need of transporation and serving free coffee and doughnuts to show appreciation.

Mel Brown of Waverly put in 36 years at Schield Bantam and said Wilbur Schield treated employees like family.

"He had a way with people," Brown said.

Jim Lynch, another former Schield Bantam employee, agreed.

"The thing about Wilbur is he took an absolute interest in, I think, everybody that worked for him," Lynch said.

Schield also took an interest in his adopted community. Born in 1909 on a farm in Sioux County, Schield lived and worked outside of Iowa during his lifetime before returning to Waverly to help Vern build a crane company.

According to a biography provided by the Schield family, Wilbur Schield helped start the Waverly Lions Club and the Waverly radio station. He supported the Boy Scouts and held various leadership positions with the organization.

The Schield brothers contributed financially to Anderson College and Wartburg College. At Wartburg, the original Schield athletic stadium was named in their honor. Wartburg College recognizes Wilbur Schield as a lifetime giver to the college.

Ron Matthias served with Schield on the investment committee at Wartburg College.

"He took a deep interest in the welfare of the community and was, I think, exceedingly generous in sharing his time and his resources with his community over the years," Matthias said.

"Wilbur was a Waverly man, and he was willing to pitch in wherever, whenever he sensed there was a need," Matthias added.

Schield was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Eileen. He is survived by four sons, a sister, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.