Raymond W. Shafer 1924-2003

SHAFER, KOSTMAN, KOENIG, SARELSON, ROCHEFORD, REED, SCHUTTE, HANGARTNER, CLEARY, BLOCK

Posted By: S.Ferrall (email)
Date: 6/30/2004 at 15:35:15

Raymond W. Shafer, 79, of Waukon, died Sunday, September 28, 2003, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon, with Pastor Judy Scheer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Raymond William Shafer was born August 10, 1924, on the rural Postville farm of his parents, Ben and Clara (Kostman) Shafer. He was baptized at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ, and attended Ludlow Township #7 rural school. Ray was a farmer all of his life. He started by renting the home farm with his brother Albert in 1942. In 1944 they bought the farm. On January 22, 1947, Ray married Marian Koenig of Castalia at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Later that year, Ray and Marian bought the farm where they have lived ever since. Ray was a long-time member of Salem United Church of Christ. He was also a member of Allamakee County Farm Bureau, served as a director on the Allamakee County ASCS Committee, was a director for Ludlow Township School #3, and was president of the Ludlow Township School System. In addition to the farming he loved, Ray also worked for a time as a repairman for the Ludlow Township Telephone Company. He enjoyed traveling, playing cards, picnics, motorcycling, boating, and having company come to the house. He was grateful to have the opportunity to make yearly trips to Virginia to see Mike and May Rae and their family.Survivors include his wife Marian of rural Waukon; a daughter, Mary Rae (Mike) Sarelson of Clifton, Va.; two granddaughters, Lisa Sarelson and husband Rob Rocheford of Centreville, Va., and Lori Sarelson and husband Chris Reed of Clifton; a great-granddaughter, Kyla Rocheford; two sisters, Esther Schutte of Postville and Bernice Hangartner of Castalia; along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Albert; and two sisters, Velma Cleary and Minnie Block. Casketbearers are Lonnie and Randy Hangartner, Leslie and Dean Henning, Sylvan Taylor, and Orlan Tague.

©Waukon Standard 2003
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 10/1/2003