Thomas E. Shafer, 84, of Warren, entered peacefully into eternal life on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 7:35 p.m. at Ohio Living Lake Vista under the comforting care of hospice.
He was born Thursday, March 26, 1936 in Warren the son of the late Fred and Vera Margison Shafer and was a lifelong area resident.
After graduating from Warren G. Harding High School, Tom began working for Packard Electric prior to entering the United States Army.
Tom enlisted into the United States Army on November 28, 1955 in Warren, Ohio and served his country honorably and faithfully with the 501st Signal Battalion Airborne Division Company B during the Korean Conflict. He attended The Airborne School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and The Signal School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. For his service to his country, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupational Medal and a Parachutist Badge. He was honorably discharged on November 27, 1961 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the rank of Private.
He returned to working at Packard Electric after returning from the Army and would retire from there as a truck driver. Tom also worked as a truck driver with Sanfrey Trucking Company.
He enjoyed sailing his Hobbycraft Catamaran, flying in his ultralight plane, flying RC planes and tinkering in his shop building ham radios. Tom was a member of the former Elks Club in Warren, the 50 + Club of SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and its 300 club and was a pirohy volunteer there.
Tom was of the Catholic faith and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Warren, where he was a member of its 400 Club.
He will forever be remembered by his wife of 62 years the former Barbara Ann Straniak whom he married on February 8, 1959; two daughters Brenda (John) Slage of Utica, Ohio and Connie Shafer of Indianapolis, Indiana; six grandchildren Virginia Haught, Thomas (Stephanie) Slage, Elizabeth (Garry) Bailey, Emily Slage, Eric Gumino and Amanda (Andrew) Kay and by fourteen great grandchildren.
Besides his parents, Tom was preceded in death by a sister Nancy Manchester and a brother Donald Shafer.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:20 a.m. in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
A Memorial Mass, with Fr. Frantisek Katrinak officiating, will take place on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. in the church.
Burial will take place in All Souls Cemetery in Cortland.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions take the form of donations in Tom’s name to the Restoration Fund of St. Mary’s Church, 232 Seneca St. NE, Warren, Ohio 44482.
The family sends special thankyous to Dr. Truong, the nurses, and staff at Ohio Living Lake Vista, and the nurses at Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital for their outstanding kindness, compassion, and loving care of Tom and his family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road, NE, Warren, Ohio 44483, 330-394-6200. Dedicated to Serving Your Loved Ones. This obituary may be viewed, and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.
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