Roderick Sheldon
1952 - 2018Roderick Vance Sheldon, age 66 of Wolverine
passed away August 16, 2018 at home.
He was born July 30, 1952 in Port Huron to
Donald and Lillian (Bugbee) Sheldon.
He was a true Renaissance man, Roderick, an Eagle Scout, was owner of
Mole in the Ground Studio and co-owner of Creative Haven Farm. He was
a luthier who built mountain and hammered dulcimers, cigar box banjos
and an instrument he created himself, called the Sweet Stick, He was also
a gifted musician, Everyone looked for him and his travelling gut-bucket,
wash tub bass, at every music festival in Northern Michigan. Roderick
had the very first booth at the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly,
Michigan in 1980 and booths at many other renaissance festivals across
the country where he sold many of his instruments.
He raised goats and chickens with his wife, Shelley, at Creative Haven
Farm. His family owned singer sewing machine dealerships in Flint and
Petoskey. As a teenager, Roderick repaired all Singer sewing machines
from Northern Michigan high school Home Economics classrooms,
Roderick was indeed a true jack of all trades. He was a master carpenter
and studied solar energy and off the grid technology. Roderick graduated
with Honors and Distinction from the University of Illinois with a
Bachelor’s degree in Art Education,
Roderick is survived by:
his wife of 21 years, Shelley;
daughter, Anne Carroll;
sister, Diane Sheldon-Ku;
Niece, Cleo;
nephew, Derek;
God daughter, Breah Slaggert;
aunts, Edith Bugbee and Marylou (Don) Taylor;
uncle, Ken (Janis) Bugbee; and
humerous cousins,
He was preceded in death by his parents, and numerous aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life ceremony will be announced in early fall.
Memorials may be given to his wife, Shelley St. Ange-Sheldon at
6131 Rondo Road, Wolverine, Michigan 49799