Shaffer, Katheryn D.

Katheryn D. Shaffer, 82, of rural Rowley, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at the Buchanan County Health Center, after being stricken by a sudden illness at her home. Funeral services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, Independence, with the Rev. Dennis Bailey officiating. Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence. The family will receive friends today from 3 to 8 p.m. at the White Funeral Home, Independence.

Memorials will be directed to the Brandon Community Club, First United Methodist Church, and to Cedar Valley Hospice.

Online condolences may be left at www.white-mthope.com

Katheryn was born Sept. 2, 1927, in Waterloo, the daughter of Cato Kaiser and Mabel (Rogge) Kaiser. Following her graduation from the Brandon High School, she attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in Cedar Falls, where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school in the rural country schools before her marriage to Roberts Berry Shaffer on Dec. 26, 1948. She enjoyed becoming a farm wife and homemaker as she worked with her husband and made a beautiful home for raising their family. Roberts preceded her in death on Jan. 16, 2004. Katheryn was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Independence and church circle. She enjoyed the Sunny Side of Sixty Club, square dancing, conservation, nature, birds, flowers and genealogy. She kept active with her volunteer work and will truly be missed by her loving family, nieces, nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.

Mrs. Shaffer is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Daniel D. and Teri Shaffer of Independence; one daughter and son-in-law, Connie & Jeff Paxton of Laurel; five grandchildren, Amy (Mike Reilly) Shaffer, Adam Shaffer, Alicia (Jason Singleton) Shaffer, Rob Paxton and Amanda Paxton; four great-grandchildren, Allissa, Addison and Ethan Shaffer and Hunter Reilly; two sisters, Velda Garrelts of Springfield, Ill. and Pauline Smith of Hazelton; and a sister-in-law, Bethel Betsworth of East Moline, Ill.

In addition to her husband, Roberts, Katheryn was preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers-in-law, Glenn Garrelts, Clarence Smith and Lowell Betsworth.