SHAFER, Jacob Benjamin 'Jake'
SHAFER, HESTON, SORENSEN, JORDAN
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/8/2010 at 14:19:22
"The Fairfield Ledger", Tuesday, July 6, 2010, Page 7
SHAFER, Jacob Benjamin 'Jake' -- Jacob Benjamin "Jake" SHAFER, 86, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Fairfield, died Monday, June 28, 2010.
A funeral was held Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Jeffrey A. McPheron officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Alzheimer's Association or American Cancer Society.
Mr. SHAFER was born Aug. 2, 1923, on the family farm in rural Fairfield, the son of Marie and Samuel SHAFER. He married D. Joan HESTON Aug. 23, 1923, at the Lutheran church parsonage in Fairfield. She died Feb. 19, 2009, at the Park Place Long Term Care Unit in Mount Pleasant.
Mr. SHAFER and his wife began their lifelong business partnership with one of the first Ferguson tractor dealerships in the country in 1946. During the 1960s, the business evolved into Shafer Ford with headquarters in Mount Pleasant and stores in Fairfield, Washington and Wapello. The business grew into one of the largest Ford Tractor dealerships in the country. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. SHAFER sold American Motors, Jeep, Chysler and International trucks. He was recognized many times by each company for his dealership's outstanding sales performance and customer service.
During this time, Mr. SHAFER's business was also the pre-delivery center for International/Bluebird school buses, and Mr. SHAFER devised a unique system to straighten bus frames for hundreds of chassis that had been damaged in shipment to Bluebird. Retiring in the late 1980s, he and his wife built J & J Camping west of Mount Pleasant.
Mr. SHAFER was most recently residing at Mulberry Retirement Center in Mulberry, Ind.
Mr. SHAFER was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce during his entire business career in Mount Pleasant and many other clubs and organizations.
Mr. SHAFER and his wife traveled extensively throughout the United States in their recreational vehicle. Mr. SHAFER participated in tractor pull matches while owning a dealership. He continued to collect and restore many classic cars and antique tractors.
Surivors include three children, Judith SORENSEN and husband Jack of San Antonio, Texas, Jerry SHAFER and wife Cyndy of Lafayette, Ind., and Jayne JORDAN of Eldon; 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Wesley of rural Fairfield.
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Mrs. SHAFER's obituary - click here
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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