In Memory Of
Arlene Shaffer
1930
2021
Arlene Shaffer
September 6, 1930 — May 4, 2021
For those unable to attend in person please select this link, https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1494385435, to share in Mrs. Shaffer's funeral ceremony.
Our hearts are breaking with the loss of our beloved Mother, Arlene M. (Willey) Shaffer, 90, on May 4, 2021. She passed at Homestead of Auburn. Arlene was born September 6, 1930 to Earl A and Merle Margaret (Knight) Willey on a farm near Liberty, Nebraska. Arlene was raised on a farm near Liberty and graduated from Barneston High School in 1948 after the family moved to town.
After marrying Delmar Shaffer and living in Marysville, Kansas, they moved to Topeka in 1956, they later divorced and she achieved her greatest life's accomplishment of raising six children on her own.
Arlene was a stay at home mom who took great pride in being the best mom to her family and all the children who passed through her home day care. After her youngest was in high school she went to work at Brewster Place in the housekeeping department for 20 years. After retiring she worked at Mommy & Me for 20 years. She was always supportive of all her grandkids by attending school and sporting events. She was always everyone's mom, grandma or Gigi.
She loved to hand embroider and taught her daughters to master the art. She enjoyed baking. Her specialty was chocolate chip and sugar cookies. In later years she would entertain herself with television, music and word search books.
She is survived by her children and spouses; Curtis (Debra Rishel), Clayton, Carolyn (Dennis) Fisher, Connie (Doug) Gould, Charles (Karen), Carla Garvin. Special son at heart Jimmy Clark (Karla). Grandchildren; Michael (Ashley) Rishel, Valerie (Ken Hartle) Rishel, Azalea Dominguez, Geoffrey (Tracy) McCall, Jacob (Brooke) Fisher, Natiika (Brett) Martens, Jennifer Gould, Grant (Julie) Gould, Travis (Sarah) Gould, Caleb (Courtney) Shaffer, Colin (Bailey) Shaffer and Colby Shaffer. Numerous Great and Great-Great grandchildren. Sister, Verda Matthews, Yuma, Arizona. Many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Grandson, Marshall Gould, Son-in-law, Brian Garvin; parents, brothers Leslie, Elmo (Betty) and Lyle Willey, Sisters, Betty Eisenhauer (Ray), Jewell Melvin, JoAnn Affholder (Lee).
Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, 2134 SW Westport Drive, Topeka, KS, 66614 or Ronald McDonald House, 825 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS, 66606.
The family will greet friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, May 7, at the Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel at 10th and Lane. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday May 8, at the funeral home followed by burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. To leave a message for the family online please visit the guestbook below.
The family wishes to acknowledge that masks are optional and their use is left to the discretion of each attendee.
Our hearts are breaking with the loss of our beloved Mother, Arlene M. (Willey) Shaffer, 90, on May 4, 2021. She passed at Homestead of Auburn. Arlene was born September 6, 1930 to Earl A and Merle Margaret (Knight) Willey on a farm near Liberty, Nebraska. Arlene was raised on a farm near Liberty and graduated from Barneston High School in 1948 after the family moved to town.
After marrying Delmar Shaffer and living in Marysville, Kansas, they moved to Topeka in 1956, they later divorced and she achieved her greatest life's accomplishment of raising six children on her own.
Arlene was a stay at home mom who took great pride in being the best mom to her family and all the children who passed through her home day care. After her youngest was in high school she went to work at Brewster Place in the housekeeping department for 20 years. After retiring she worked at Mommy & Me for 20 years. She was always supportive of all her grandkids by attending school and sporting events. She was always everyone's mom, grandma or Gigi.
She loved to hand embroider and taught her daughters to master the art. She enjoyed baking. Her specialty was chocolate chip and sugar cookies. In later years she would entertain herself with television, music and word search books.
She is survived by her children and spouses; Curtis (Debra Rishel), Clayton, Carolyn (Dennis) Fisher, Connie (Doug) Gould, Charles (Karen), Carla Garvin. Special son at heart Jimmy Clark (Karla). Grandchildren; Michael (Ashley) Rishel, Valerie (Ken Hartle) Rishel, Azalea Dominguez, Geoffrey (Tracy) McCall, Jacob (Brooke) Fisher, Natiika (Brett) Martens, Jennifer Gould, Grant (Julie) Gould, Travis (Sarah) Gould, Caleb (Courtney) Shaffer, Colin (Bailey) Shaffer and Colby Shaffer. Numerous Great and Great-Great grandchildren. Sister, Verda Matthews, Yuma, Arizona. Many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Grandson, Marshall Gould, Son-in-law, Brian Garvin; parents, brothers Leslie, Elmo (Betty) and Lyle Willey, Sisters, Betty Eisenhauer (Ray), Jewell Melvin, JoAnn Affholder (Lee).
Memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, 2134 SW Westport Drive, Topeka, KS, 66614 or Ronald McDonald House, 825 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS, 66606.
The family will greet friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Friday, May 7, at the Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel at 10th and Lane. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday May 8, at the funeral home followed by burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. To leave a message for the family online please visit the guestbook below.
The family wishes to acknowledge that masks are optional and their use is left to the discretion of each attendee.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arlene Shaffer, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, May 7, 2021
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Service
Saturday, May 8, 2021
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 6
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