White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Jeanice K. Shafer, 83 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Friday, August 27, 2021, at  her home in Independence.  She was born on June 28, 1938, on the family farm near Eldora, Iowa, to John and Edith (Cross) Janssen.  Early on the family moved to a farm near Pine Lake, where she spent many hours swimming and hiking the trails.

She graduated from Steamboat Rock High School in 1955, and then continued her education at Broadlawns School of Nursing which she completed in 1958.  She worked in hospitals in Waterloo, Oregon, and Iowa Falls before starting a long tenure at Peoples Memorial Hospital (now Buchanan County Health Center), where she assisted in delivering many babies and was the night supervisor.

On September 17, 1960, she was united in marriage to William Shafer in Preston, Minnesota.  After briefly making their home in Waterloo, they moved to the Winthrop area.

She was secretary for the American Legion Auxiliary, president of the Wa Hee Nee Investment Club, and a 28 year liver transplant survivor.

For many years she and Bill enjoyed a month in Texas, taking in the music shows and the warmth.

Each fall she, her work friends, and their dog, Ace, would explore Chicago and were soon dubbed the Chicago Girls.  They still remain the best of friends.

Sunday family dinners, gardening, canning, and baking most anything (especially ranger cookies) were her pastimes.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Deborah (Larry) Beeghly of Conrad, Iowa, and Marilyn (Bill) Crow of Winthrop, Iowa, 1 son, John (Terri) Shafer of Vinton, Iowa, 1 daughter-in-law, DeAnn Shafer of Winthrop, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 3 special cousins, Marlyn (Chris) Cross of Iowa Falls, and Marlys Miller and Don Shafer, both of Independence.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill, in 2019, her daughter, Jennifer Sue Shafer, her son, Bill Shafer, her sister, Jean Janssen, 3 great grandsons, and 1 son-in-law, Charles Green.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 31^st, at the Union Church in Quasqueton, Iowa, with Rev. Kevin Jennings officiating.  Burial will be in Wilson Cemetery in Independence.  Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug.  30^th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.

White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.