SOUTH HUTCHINSON - J.F. Shafer, 84, died March 25, 2007, at Mennonite Manor, South Hutchinson.

He was born Aug. 25, 1922, in Southwest City, Mo., the son of John F. and Hazel Brooks Shafer Sr. He had attended Wichita East High School through his junior year, moved with family to Tribune and graduated in the Class of 1940 at Greeley County Community High School. He also attended Garden City Community College for one year, before leaving for the U.S. Army and World War II. A resident of Hutchinson, he had been a printer for The Hutchinson News
, later was a maintenance man for the Wolcott Building and later a route salesman for the Hutchinson Paper Company.

He was a member of Carey Park Golf Association, a regular attendee at the retired Hutchinson News Coffee Club, was a former member of the International Typographical Union and was an avid golfer and bridge player. He was a tank commander in Europe during World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.

On Sept. 8, 1946, he married Marjorie Simpson in Tribune. She survives.

Other survivors include: three sons, Dr. Timothy Shafer and wife, Kim, Broken Bow, Neb., Geoffrey C. Shafer and wife, Beth Ann, Galva, and Jerry Shafer and wife, Donna, Hutchinson; a daughter, Debby Updegraff and husband, Bob, Hutchinson; a brother, Paul Shafer, Tribune; 10 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother; and a sister, Joan Meireis, in Nov. of 2006.

Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Howard Wagler presiding. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, with family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Ashes to be buried at a later date in the Kirwin Cemetery, Kirwin.

Memorials may be sent to the donor's choice in care of the mortuary.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.