Gary LeRoy Shaffer passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa, AZ at the age of 85. He was born April 18, 1941 to Chester Shaffer and Leona Mae (Campbell) Shaffer in Clarno Township, Monroe, Wisconsin. He grew up on a farm south of Monroe.
Gary attended Monroe High School, he was a member of the first wrestling team at Monroe High School, ran track and was in FFA. He graduated in 1959. He worked for Stan Whitehead. On September 9, 1961, he married Judith Goecks in St. John’s Church.
In 1963 they moved to Milwaukee where he became a welder and joined the trades. He worked at various factories for the shutdowns and on the boats in the winter when they were in dry dock. They moved to Colorado for work in 1975. In 1991 they moved to Seattle where he continued to work for Union as a millwright and worked building Amazon, Starbucks and other upcoming businesses. In July 2000 he retired due to an injury, Gary worked all over the country with the union.
In 2005 they moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He always loved hunting but had to curtail it after his injury.
Gary was a hard worker, loved his family and his pets (Daisy and Scooter) who were his pals to the end. He had a sense of humor and many of the bible studies he attended ended up in laughter. He loved the Lord and became a daily bible reader and had the greatest of faith.
He was most proud of his children and their families. He is survived by his wife, Judy, of 65 years; daughter, Lori and her significant other, Jim Nardone; son, Brian and his wife, Michele and son Ted and his wife, Holly. He leaves behind nine grandchildren; Andrea, Cole, Jason, Whitney, Trevor, Alexander, Ashley and David, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; sister-in-law, Judy Shaffer; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Clint and Susan Eastman along with many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe at 11:00 a.m. with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Bethel Hawthorne Cemetery on Bethel Road, Clarno; a luncheon will follow services at the Moose Lodge on 3rd St. in Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his name to The American Lung Association, St. Jude’s Children Hospital, The American Cancer Society or your favorite charity.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shgfuneralhome.net.
