Person Page - 5603

     Della G. Fear was born circa 1897 at Keokuk Co., Iowa.² She died on October 17, 1898 at Washington Township, Keokuk Co., Iowa.²

     His Social Security Number was 709-07-7577.³ William Hardy Gibbons was born on August 28, 1901 at Mahaska Co., Iowa.^2,3 He married Marie Bernadette Blaylock, daughter of Erlis F. Blaylock and Nellie Ethel Fear, on July 6, 1926 at Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa.¹ William Hardy Gibbons died in February, 1970 at Illinois at age 68.³

     Robert Gene Shaffer was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa.^5,6 He was born on August 5, 1925 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa.^4,6,5 He married Esther Joy Van Ee on September 20, 1947 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa.^5,7 Robert Gene Shaffer died on October 20, 2018 at Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa, at age 93.^5,6,7 He Robert G. "Red" Shaffer, 93, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Saturday, October 20, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 29, 2018, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel with Ned H. Fry officiating. Burial with military rites by the Henry County Honor Guard will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Following the graveside committal, friends and family are invited to the Mt. Pleasant V.F.W. for a pot-luck lunch in Red's memory. Born August 5, 1925, in Oskaloosa, IA, Robert Gene was the son of Emmett "Shag" and Zella Mae Blaylock. He was a 1945 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and attended Iowa State University. On September 20, 1947, Red married Esther J. Van Ee in Oskaloosa. On October 12, 1943, Red was inducted into the United States Army at Camp Dodge, IA. He served as a construction foreman with the 27th Engineer Battalion as an NCO. During World War II, Red served in campaigns on New Guinea and in the Philippines. He returned from active duty after out-processing at Fort Leavenworth, KS, on February 11, 1946. Red completed his military career, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel (breveted) from the Iowa Army National Guard, after serving from January 3, 1949, until January 20, 1974. Red began a long career at the Henry County Engineers' Office on September 19, 1947. He was an assistant to the Engineer and retired on December 30, 1985. During this time, he was an assistant to five county engineers. A devoted husband, Red enjoyed farming, mushrooming, and an afternoon on the porch at the farm with friends. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and American Legion. He was a member of TFSR Deer Camp. Along with his loving wife, Esther, of seventy-one years, Red is survived by a daughter-in-law, Fae Erickson Ramsey of Des Moines, IA; two step-grandchildren, Genevieve (Brandon) Hays and John Ramsey; a niece, Pam Morrison; and several close friends. Red was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Robert G. Shaffer II. on October 25, 2018.⁵

     Esther Joy Van Ee was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa.^3,2 She was born on June 17, 1927 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa.^3,2 As of September 20, 1947,her married name was Shaffer.¹ She married Robert Gene Shaffer, son of Emmett Garold Shaffer and Zella Mae Blaylock, on September 20, 1947 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa.^1,2 Esther Joy Van Ee died on October 17, 2019 at Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, at age 92.^3,2 She Esther J. Shaffer, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019, at Henry County Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, October 25, 2019, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Forest Home Cemetery. Born June 17, 1927, in Oskaloosa, IA, Esther Joy was the daughter of John and Gertrude M. (Van Willigen) Van Ee. She was a 1945 graduate of Oskaloosa High School. She took college courses at Iowa Wesleyan College, along with secretarial classes at other schools. On September 20, 1947, Esther married Robert G. “Red” Shaffer in Oskaloosa, IA. After seventy-one years of marriage, he preceded her in death on October 20, 2018. As a young woman, Esther was a waitress at the Kozy Café in Mt. Pleasant. She then worked as a production worker at Sheaffer Pen in Mt. Pleasant. Using her secretarial skills, Esther worked in the office at Iowa Wesleyan College, Scientific Applications, and Staats, all located in Mt. Pleasant. Esther was a loving wife and mother. She was a lifetime V.F.W. Auxiliary member and a member of TOPS for many years. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada and especially liked to visit various cemeteries for research and historical purposes. Esther was fond of dogs and cats. While on the family farm, she would often hunt for mushrooms, buckeyes, artifacts, and rocks. Survivors include niece, Pam (Doug) Morrison of Alameda, CA; daughter-in-law, Fae Erickson Ramsey of Des Moines, IA; and special friend, Carolyn (Dennis) Prottsman of Mt. Pleasant, IA. She is also survived by two step-grandchildren, Genevieve (Brandon) Hays and John Ramsey. Along with her husband and parents, Esther was preceded in death by son, Robert G. Shaffer II; brother, John Van Ee; and three sisters, Bernice Van Ee, Harriette Engle, and Arlene Van Ee. on October 21, 2019.²

     Robert Gene Shaffer II was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa.^3,1 He married Fae Erickson.^2,3 Robert Gene Shaffer II was born on August 5, 1947 at Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa.^1,3 He died on July 10, 2009 at Iowa at age 61.^3,1 He Robert Shaffer II, 61, passed peacefully on Friday, July 10, surrounded by loved ones. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation in Des Moines, to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at Caldwell- Raddatz Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 15 at Camp Dodge Chapel, Johnston, followed by lunch. Additionally, visitation in Mt. Pleasant will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 16 at Olson Powell Memorial Chapel, 709 E. Mapleleaf Drive. Graveside services with military honors will be held at Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, immediately after the visitation, followed by a time of food and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Kid's Wish Network, Henry County Animal Rescue Organization, and Mercy Hospice of Johnston, Iowa. Bob was born in Ottumwa and raised in Mt. Pleasant, the only child of his loving parents, Robert and Esther (Van Ee) Shaffer. He was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, Iowa Wesleyan College, US Army Engineer School in Ft. Belvoir, VA, and the Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He retired in 2000 after 30 years of service with the Iowa National Guard at the rank of Colonel. Bob loved his career in the military and proved his dedication by continuing on at Camp Dodge as Director of Facilities, providing service and leadership to the guard until his final retirement in September of 2007. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion of Foreign Wars. Bob found joy in long afternoons on the golf course, mushroom hunting with friends and family, and providing food and care to all creatures great and small. Spending time at his beloved farm provided peace and renewal. Giving generously to those in need was a passion. His family and friends will be forever touched by his strength, determination, and lively sense of humor. Bob is greatly loved and missed by his parents, Robert and Esther Shaffer (Mt. Pleasant); his daughter, Kristy Shaffer (Corpus Christi, TX); his wife, Fae Erickson Ramsay (Des Moines); and her two children, Genevieve Ramsay (Des Moines) and John Ramsay (Des Moines); step-grandchild, Jonah (Des Moines); and close family friend, Randy Ford (Mt. Pleasant). on July 12, 2009.³