Darlene Shaffer, 98, Elgin, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in rural Volga, IA. Darlene was born on February 20, 1918, in Elgin, IA, to James and Lola (Kiple) Yearous.
She was united in marriage to Forrest D. Shaffer on August 18, 1935 in Elgin. Forrest passed away on December 1, 2007. Darlene and Forrest worked together on the farm while raising their three children. . In 1974, they retired from farming and moved into Elgin. She was a faithful member of the Illyria Community Church and later the First Baptist Church in Elgin. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, poetry writing, gardening, traveling and spending time with her family. Darlene will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her children: Dalene (Jim) Whitford, Volga, Ruby Hild, Tempe, AZ, Robert (Terry) Shaffer, Volga; eleven grandchildren, Dr. Forrest (Glenna) Whitford, Volga, James (Jeannette) Whitford, Volga, Dr. Kevin (Carolyn) Whitford, Rochester, MN, Bradley (Sherry) Whitford, St. Peters, MO, Col. Dean (Brenda) Whitford, Ft. Polk, LA, Darren (Souny) Hild, Mesa, AZ, Lance (Cindy) Hild, San Diego, CA, Amy (Bill) Kerr, Elgin, Jack (Lori) Shaffer, Berkeley Springs, WV, Lisa (Jock) Naert, Ankeny, Karen (Alex) Eischeid, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2 step-grandchildren Robert Erickson, Phoenix, AZ, Rebecca Erickson-Cohen, Volga IA., thirty-one great- grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Kathlene Glass-Eble, Clermont, IA; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Shaffer, Arlington, IA and several nieces and nephews.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lola Yearous; her husband, Forrest Shaffer; sister, Geraldine Shaffer and daughter-in-law, JoAnn Wilson Shaffer.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 4-7 pm at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, Iowa.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, January 6, 2017 at the First Baptist Church, Elgin, Iowa with Rev. Lee Boleyn as the Officiant.
A private family inurnment will be at Illyria Cemetery, rural Elgin, Iowa.
Leonard – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.
Condolences may be left with: www.graufuneralhomes.com