Charles E. Shaffer, age 73, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2016 at 1:15 p.m. with close family at his side. He had resided at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home for the past several months while battling declining health issues.
Charles was born in Ladore, Kansas to Frank and Elsie M. (Aronhalt) Shaffer. As a child the Shaffer family moved to various rural Mound Valley – rural Galesburg – and rural Parsons, Kansas areas. Charles graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1961 and spent a short time in the United States Air Force receiving an honorable discharge in 1964. In 1966, he married Julia Jean Scott in Kansas City, Kansas. Soon after being married, they moved to the rural Parsons area where they lived the remainder of their lives. Charlie was employed for most of his years as a Carman/Painter for the Katy Railroad. Upon closing of the Katy Railroad, he became employed at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant as a fireman/EMT.
During Charlie's lifetime he was involved in Boy Scouts of America organization as a Troop leader, a men's softball coach, a volunteer fireman/EMT with Walton Township Fire Department, an amateur woodworker, Red Cross event volunteer, a league bowler, and an avid gardener. With his wife Julia, they owned and operated Shaffers Farms and Greenhouse for several years. Charlie was known for growing delicious tomatoes and extra extra large pumpkins.
Charlie enjoyed helping others. While employed at the KAAP Fire Department, he helped organize a bicycle refit program that used discarded bicycle pieces to make new useable bicycles for Christmas gifts for deserving children. He was also known for putting his woodworking talents to good use by making and donating wooden rocking horses, baby doll beds, and children chairs to the Stella Wells charity auctions until his health prevented him from continuing.
Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julia, in July 2006; his father and mother, Frank and Elsie M. Shaffer; an infant granddaughter, Elizabeth; his in-laws, Edward and Leta Scott; and brother-in-law, Charles McManus.
He will be greatly missed by his sister, Edna M. (Shaffer) McManus; two brothers Sam Shaffer and his wife, Violet, and Jack Shaffer and his wife, Dixie; one son, John Shaffer and his wife, Debbie; two daughters, Cindy (Shaffer) Lane and her husband, Manuel, and Charlotte (Shaffer) Ghering and her husband, Bryon; six grandchildren, Jonathan Shaffer, Jamie (Shaffer) Compton, USAF SSgt Micheal D. Bolinger, Amanda Bolinger, Jonathan Ghering and Samantha Ghering; and three great-grandchildren.
No funeral service is planned at this time. Following cremation, the family will select a date in early spring to conduct a graveside memorial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery rural Dennis, Kansas.
To help commemorate the spirit of helping others, donations are encouraged to the Proud Animals Lovers Shelter in the name of Charles E Shaffer. He had a soft spot for animals. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles E. Shaffer, please visit our flower store.
Charles was born in Ladore, Kansas to Frank and Elsie M. (Aronhalt) Shaffer. As a child the Shaffer family moved to various rural Mound Valley – rural Galesburg – and rural Parsons, Kansas areas. Charles graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1961 and spent a short time in the United States Air Force receiving an honorable discharge in 1964. In 1966, he married Julia Jean Scott in Kansas City, Kansas. Soon after being married, they moved to the rural Parsons area where they lived the remainder of their lives. Charlie was employed for most of his years as a Carman/Painter for the Katy Railroad. Upon closing of the Katy Railroad, he became employed at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant as a fireman/EMT.
During Charlie's lifetime he was involved in Boy Scouts of America organization as a Troop leader, a men's softball coach, a volunteer fireman/EMT with Walton Township Fire Department, an amateur woodworker, Red Cross event volunteer, a league bowler, and an avid gardener. With his wife Julia, they owned and operated Shaffers Farms and Greenhouse for several years. Charlie was known for growing delicious tomatoes and extra extra large pumpkins.
Charlie enjoyed helping others. While employed at the KAAP Fire Department, he helped organize a bicycle refit program that used discarded bicycle pieces to make new useable bicycles for Christmas gifts for deserving children. He was also known for putting his woodworking talents to good use by making and donating wooden rocking horses, baby doll beds, and children chairs to the Stella Wells charity auctions until his health prevented him from continuing.
Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julia, in July 2006; his father and mother, Frank and Elsie M. Shaffer; an infant granddaughter, Elizabeth; his in-laws, Edward and Leta Scott; and brother-in-law, Charles McManus.
He will be greatly missed by his sister, Edna M. (Shaffer) McManus; two brothers Sam Shaffer and his wife, Violet, and Jack Shaffer and his wife, Dixie; one son, John Shaffer and his wife, Debbie; two daughters, Cindy (Shaffer) Lane and her husband, Manuel, and Charlotte (Shaffer) Ghering and her husband, Bryon; six grandchildren, Jonathan Shaffer, Jamie (Shaffer) Compton, USAF SSgt Micheal D. Bolinger, Amanda Bolinger, Jonathan Ghering and Samantha Ghering; and three great-grandchildren.
No funeral service is planned at this time. Following cremation, the family will select a date in early spring to conduct a graveside memorial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery rural Dennis, Kansas.
To help commemorate the spirit of helping others, donations are encouraged to the Proud Animals Lovers Shelter in the name of Charles E Shaffer. He had a soft spot for animals. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles E. Shaffer, please visit our flower store.
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