Steven L. Shafer
September 01, 2010
Steve Shafer, 60, passed away Wednesday, September 1, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa.
He was born July 18, 1950 to Patricia and Don Shafer in Des Moines, IA. Steve grew up on the south side of Des Moines, was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Lincoln High School as class valedictorian. He began his passion for education at Iowa State University where he received his BS in Economics in 1972. Steve later continued his education and obtained his Accounting Certificate from Simpson College in 1985 and a Masters of Accounting degree in 2001 from Iowa State University.
Steve was a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. Prior to joining the Simpson faculty in 2003, he worked in the Des Moines area for 25 years as a business manager, controller and vice-president of finance. He began teaching in 1991 as an adjunct instructor for colleges in the greater Des Moines area and finished his 18 year teaching career as an associate professor of accounting at Simpson College.
Steve’s life focus was family, friends, fellow faculty and his students. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends, boating and attending athletic events. He was a passionate and longtime swimming, baseball and basketball coach. Steve was an avid learner and loved teaching others. In a recent article commemorating Steve’s teaching career, he stressed to his students to “always give a good effort and never give up.”
Left to honor his memory are his wife of 38 years, Katherine (Anania) Shafer, daughter Melissa (Chris) Ollila; sons Matthew (Kathy) Shafer and Michael (Ashley) Shafer; mother Patricia W. Shafer; mother-in-law Mary Louise Anania; brothers Stan Shafer and Tony (Roxana) Young; sister-in-law Chris (Cecil White) Anania; grandchildren Collin and Caleb Shafer and Allie and Kaylee Ollila. Steve is preceded in death by his father Don P. Shafer and father-in-law Samuel Anania.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Angela Sandre and her staff, as well as all the caregivers from Iowa Health Homecare and Hospice.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 4th at St. Augustin’s Catholic Church with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery. A visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Friday at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Steve Shafer Scholarship Fund at Simpson College.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Jan Ellsworth
03/17/2013
Kathy, I am so sorry for your loss. Please know my prayers are with you, now and always!
Bruce Dickes
09/09/2010
Steve was my friend all through grade school and high school. He was always a wonderful person and one of the smartest people I ever knew.
He will be greatly missed.
Jan Park Riedmueller
09/03/2010
I am so saddened to hear that Steve died and so grateful that my sister Jodi and my father Jack and myself got to see him a few weeks ago. Our heartfelt prayers go out to you Kathy, Melissa..Stan. The Shafer and the Park family have a long and joyful history together. Jody and I and Stan and Steve had many funny times together when we were kids. Steve turned out to be such and kind and giving man. Please know that our family has our arms around you even though we cannot be physically there.
Love, Jan, Jody, Jackie, Jack, Charlie, and Rick.
Keith Bryan
09/03/2010
I am sorry for your family's loss. Steve was my advisor at Simpson College and was I glad to have him because he had my classes planned out from sophomore year on. I only wish I was as organized as him. I graduated in May 2009 and had several classes with him. He was always kind to me and I am grateful for the advice he shared with me. Steve will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family and those of us who were lucky enough to have known him and be taught by him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Beth Carlson
09/03/2010
I'm very sorry for your loss. I graduated from Grand View and had Steve as a professor for one of my night classes. He was one of my favorite teachers and will be missed.
Sam Swalwell
09/03/2010
I am sorry for your loss. I graduated from Simpson College in May of 2009 with an Accounting degree. I had Steve as a professor for most of my classes and enjoyed them all. He was a great asset to the business department at Simpson College, and will be greatly missed. It is sad that he will not be around to get more students interested in the Accounting field. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Sue Bowlin
09/02/2010
Kathy and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Steve was such a good man who touched many lives with his teaching, his kind heart and his gentle spirit. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.