Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Robert E. Shafer, 86, a resident of Davenport, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2011, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 16550 – 290th Street, Long Grove, Iowa.
Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa. The family will greet friends Sunday at the Halligan – McCabe – DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, downtown Davenport. Visitation will begin with a Christian Wake Service at 2:00 p.m. Sunday that all are invited to attend. The family will continue greeting friends after the prayer service until 5:00 p.m. There will be additional visitation Monday at St. Ann’s Church from 9:15 until 10:15 a.m.
Mr. Shafer died peacefully Thursday, July, 28, 2011, surrounded by his family at the Kahl Home, Davenport.
Robert Edward Shafer was born February 14, 1925, in Rock Island, Illinois a son of Everett and Rose (Fenwick) Shafer.
Mr. Shafer served our country honorably during World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy.
He was united in marriage to Dorothy Agnes Fayr on June 29, 1946, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. She preceded him in death on December 6, 2000.
Bob retired from the former Rock Island Line Railroad. He had been an Engineer and worked out of the Silvis, Illinois Yard and the Iowa City Hub for forty-five years. Following his railroad retirement he and Dorothy enjoyed many years together living in Tucson, Arizona. During this time in Arizona he came out of “retirement” and worked for the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort. This was a job that he truly cherished, combining work with golf, a game that he loved to play.
His memberships included, BLE – Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, St. Alphonsus Church, Davenport, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson, and former member, of the Elks, Moose and the Knights of Columbus. He was also very proud of his forty-years of sobriety.
Memorials can be made to the Handicapped Development Center Sheltered Workshop.
Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Roseanne and Richard Rekers, Hudson, Iowa, Joellen and Scott Raderstorf, Boulder, CO, and Mary and Mark Newcomer, Davenport; sons and a daughter-in-law, Rev. Msgr. Drake Shafer, Pastor of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove, Martin and Barbara Shafer, Coralville, Iowa, and Gerard Shafer, Davenport; ten beloved grandchildren, Corey (Mackinzie) Rekers, Ryan Rekers, Benjamin, Maxwell, and Quintin Raderstorf, Kelly (Brian) Harry, Joseph Newcomer, Melinda (Chris) Shetler, Laura (fiancé, Jason Green) Shafer, and Chad (Dawn) Shafer, as well as seven great grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law, Richard E. and Cathy Shafer, San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to his wife, Dorothy and his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, E. David and Phyllis Shafer. May they rest in peace.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Mr. Shafer’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
