SHAFFER
The beautiful soul of Sara Lee Shaffer left this earth on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, to be with her forever partner, Bill, in the great beyond. The “Mavin of 302 High and 903 Boulevard”, Keokuk died quietly at her home, with family attending, after battling kidney and heart disease at the age of 85.
Sara was born in Keokuk, Iowa, April 3, 1939 to Sarah Lorene and James Edward Daggs. She was the second child, and eldest daughter, of a large, loving, and raucous family. Her parents had seven children and lived in a small house over on William Street, next to Rees Park.
Sara and her siblings were raised in the Nazarene church, and at her mother’s insistence they attended sometimes 2-3 times a week, despite brother Jimmy’s complaining. As the eldest daughter, Sara was often corralling the other children, trying to keep them in line, swinging a broom at them as needed. It was happy childhood, despite Jimmy and Sammy terrifying Sara and her sister Garnet in the outhouse late at night.
Sara attended Lincoln grade school and Keokuk Jr. and Sr. High, graduating in 1957. She was a good student and loved singing in the choir at school and at church, where she would sing duets with her mom. Sara worked for a brief time at Sheaffer Pen in Ft Madison. Sara met her forever love, William Glenn Shaffer, as a “third wheel” ride along where Bill invited her (not the other girl) to drive his new car. Sara and Bill married November 26, 1958 at the Nazarene Church in Keokuk.
Sara was an excellent homemaker and bowling partner with Bill, and later with great friends, at Arrowhead Bowl. They raised their two daughters – Lori Joan Shaffer and Lee Ann Shaffer Smith in Keokuk. When the girls had grown and “flown the coop” Sara and Bill often traveled to visit them in Colorado, New Jersey, and Missouri. Upon Bill’s retirement from Union Electric they enjoyed travels with the “California Uncles” (Bill’s brother and his partner, Don) on two cruises and a bus tour. Sara and Bill also scoured the Midwest for every known make, model, and color of Haeger pottery through the 90’s and 2000’s which resulted in one of the most comprehensive assortments of elegant vases, lamp bases, figurines, and ash trays in the mid-west. The collection still resides on the shelves, curio cabinets, and the basement of their home.
Sara loved spending time with her four grandchildren – Sarah Anne Goeke (Travis Marerro), Catharine Jayne Goeke-Munch (James Goeke-Munch), Austin William Smith, and Abigail Susanne Smith, which were all called interchangeably: “Booby” “Sugar”, “Sweet Girl”, or “My Best Person”. Sara enjoyed cooking with them or hanging out and sharing many stories of her past, and their present. She reveled in her two great-grandchildren – Luna Lee Cochenour, daughter of Abigail Smith, Burlington, IA, and Sarah Ivy Goeke-Munch, daughter of Cat and Jim Goeke-Munch, St. Louis, MO.
Sara was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Keokuk. She was endlessly friendly and “never knew a stranger”. She could make life-long friends on the plane ride to New Jersey. She was an unfailing peace maker and peace lover to her family and friends. She has a patent on the saying: “happy and gay, mostly gay” which translates as “hey, let’s just all get along, okay?” She really only wanted for everyone to get along and have fun. If there was a temporary rift somewhere – she could feel it – like “a disturbance in the force”. And her trademark exclamation “it’s delicious” (pronounced: dee – LEE -shus) should be sent into outer space as a welcoming beacon to all life in the universe.
She loved family gatherings at her home, or at siblings’ houses, or at local restaurants. She was a very good cook – but would never take credit for it. Her pork tenderloin (the Iowa way), potato soup, minute steaks, 7-layer salad, the “Robert Redford” desert, and the “Sara and Bill Unique Recipe for Carmel Corn” are all the stuff of family legend.
She loved big and completely. She is survived by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (above) and siblings and their spouses: James (Jimmy) and Betty Daggs, Samuel (Sammy) Daggs, and Sue Anne Lawson and Ron Lawson. As well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws, her sisters Joan Mae Daggs and Garnet Morris, her brother Carl E Daggs, sister-in-law Joan Daggs, two brothers in infancy, niece Candina Lawson, brothers-in-law Austin D Shaffer and Donald Pancrazio, and her one true love, Bill.
Sara made a quiet, but deep and lasting impact on those that knew her. Her bright eyes, rosy cheeks, shining smile, and deep laugh will be missed. The power of her steadfast love and acceptance will live on in her family and friends, making the world a happier place.
A celebration of life will be held 4 p.m., Monday, September 30 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with Pastor Jay Zetterlund officiating.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service with the family meeting with friends from 3 – 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Keokuk Public Library.
