Patricia J. Shafer

Patricia J. Shafer, 76, of St. Libory died Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

The family will greet friends from 2 to 4 PM Saturday, November 11th at Apfel Funeral Home – Grand Island, concluding with a time for sharing memories.

Patricia Jane Shafer was born March 2, 1947, at Grand Island to Stanley Tom and Betty Jane (Smith) Vavak.  She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1965.

She married Gary Lynn Shafer on December 6, 1970, in Grand Island where they made their home.  They relocated to St. Libory in 1996.

In her earlier years, Pat worked as a switchboard operator for a telephone company. Later on, Pat devoted her life to raising her seven children. She was active in volunteering at their schools throughout the years.  She had many four-legged companions over the years including Meeko, Lily, Charlie and Tweedlebug.  Pat was a fan of Elvis Presley music and enjoyed her trips to Disney World. She loved to garden and cook, with some of her specialties being potato dumplings with sauerkraut, no bake cookies, kolaches and her sugar cookies that everyone loved. She was also a talented artist.

Survivors include her husband, Gary Shafer; four sons, Joel (Marcey) Shafer of St. Paul, NE, Matthew Shafer of St. Libory, Patrick Shafer of Grand Island, and Benjamin Shafer of Grand Island; three daughters, Amy Ryan of Arlington,Kansas, Alison (Jason) Shafer-Beckstrom of Grand Island and Katharine Shafer of Grand Island; nineteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother, S. “Dean” Vavak of Omaha; one sister, Ann (Mike) Grimes of Grand Island; sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Jerry) Radcliff of Arizona and Jacki (Dave) Marsh of Grand Island; and mother-in-law, Velma Shafer of Grand Island.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and father-in-law, Wilson Shafer.