John F. Shaffer

John Frank Shaffer, 92, of Crivitz died peacefully of old age on July 23, 2012.

He was born January 29, 1920 on the family farm in Crivitz, just up the road from Shaffer Park Resort. His parents were John and Ursula (Delach) Shaffer. He was the fifth child of seven, and the first boy of two.

John attended grades 1-8 in a small one room country school. He walked 1.5 miles to and from school daily. He left school to work full time on the family farm. At 14, his first paying job was loading 100 pound sacks of potatoes into rail cars in Crivitz for 10 cents an hour. John enlisted in the Army in 1941. He served in the South Pacific operating steam powered cranes at supply docks in Australia and the Philippines until the end of WW II. After the war, he returned to Crivitz. John was encouraged by his mother to buy property on the Peshtigo River, where he continued her fried chicken business with her help and his sister, Stella.

John married Clarissa “June” Witt, May 1, 1948. June passed June 23, 2004. They shared 56 years of marriage, including many long hours growing their thriving business and enjoying a few major trips to Australia, Europe with winters in Port Charlotte, Florida. Daughter, Clarice died tragically at the age of 14. She would have been 50 years in 2012. In 1949, Shaffer Park was opened in current location on the Sandstone Flowage. In 1959, the West Motel was built. In 1971, the East Motel was built. Sandstone Lodge and Banquet Hall was built in 1973. Shaffer Park Resort is proudly continued by his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Amy Shaffer.

John was a charter member of the Crivitz Lions Club and the Crivitz Recreation Association. He was a member of the Marinette County Tavern League, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Elks, American Legion and Knights of Columbus. John was a strong promoter and supporter of snowmobiling in the area. Sandstone was the first designated snowmobiling property with over 600 acres. He introduced hundreds to the new sport at the motel by providing them with Skidoos machines. He helped establish the Iron Shoe Snowmobile Club by giving them a loan for their first trail groomer. He worked hard with the Crivitz Lions Club to introduce the first snowmobile races, possibly the first in Wisconsin. John also donated the funds for the Shaffer Family Pavilion in the Crivitz VFW Park.

He is survived by his sons, Mark (Amy) and Roger Shaffer of Crivitz; grandchildren, Jasen of Boulder, Maren of Baltimore, Lisa of Albuquerque and Sara of Milwaukee; great-grandchildren, Gunar and Ryder of Boulder. Also surviving is his baby sister, Eleanor Krejci of Brookfield and 2 sisters-in-law, June Witt of Crivitz and Ann Witt of Shawano.

His deceased siblings are Ann, Josephine, Stella, Em and Edward.

Friends may call at Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home, 801 George St., Crivitz from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 30th with a wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation continues on Tuesday, July 31st at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Crivitz at 10:30 a.m. Concelebrating the Mass will be Rev. Walter Stumpf and Rev. Jack Harper. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Military Rites by the Crivitz American Legion. Pallbearers will be Frank Krejci, Michael Shaffer, Bruce Witt, Jack Witt, Pat Witt and Steve Witt. Honorary pallbearer will be Thomas Gerbyshak.

Thank you to John’s caregivers and Unity Hospice. We Appreciate their care and support. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Bank North in Memory of John Shaffer. A donation will be made to a local charity. Please visit www.rhodescharapata.com to express online condolences and view video tribute.

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