Obituary of John Joseph Shaffer

A Mass of Christian Burial for John Joseph George Shaffer of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Father Charles Tichacek, church pastor, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Shaffer, Brian Long, James Watkins, Elmer Blair, Bobby Green, and Dawson Dameron. Mr. Shaffer, 80, passed away late Saturday night, April 26, 2014 at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO. Born November 2, 1933 in St. Louis, MO, he was the son of Clayton Paul and Regina Agnes Kaufman Shaffer. He was united in marriage on May 1, 1954 in St. Louis to Doris Mae Kalschutz. This union was blessed with seven children: John, Jennifer, William, Chris, Michael, David and Mary. John and Doris moved their family to Elsberry in 1976. He was employed as a supervisor at Forrest Keeling Nursery near Elsberry for 35 years, retiring in 2007. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Elsberry. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton and Regina Shaffer; a sister who died as an infant; and his beloved wife of almost 57 years, Doris Shaffer, who died March 6, 2011. Survivors include five sons: John C. Shaffer and his wife, Cindy, of Foley, MO, William Shaffer of Elsberry, Chris Shaffer and his wife, Kendra, of Bowling Green, MO, Michael Shaffer and David Shaffer, both of Elsberry; two daughters: Jennifer Jensen of Emporium, KS, and Mary Watkins of Elsberry; eleven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He also leaves one brother, William Shaffer and his wife, Jackie, of Des Moines, IA; several in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. A Knights of Columbus Service will be held during the visitation at the funeral home. Memorial may be made to the Family of John Shaffer in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.