Benjamin "Ben" Robert Shafer

Benjamin "Ben" Robert Shafer, formerly of Warsaw, Indiana passed away surrounded by family at his residence on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Mancelona, Michigan at the age of 77. 

Ben was born on June 20, 1944 in Warsaw, Indiana to Helen Berniece (Schue) Shafer and Robert Eugene Shafer.  He graduated from Warsaw High School in 1962.  Ben married Linda Lyons on January 11, 1964 and together they shared 45 years of marriage and raised three daughters, a son and became grandparents before she passed away on March 20, 2009.  Ben was blessed to have found someone to share his life again, and married Karla Jeanne Blake on August 19, 2011. 

Ben was a lifetime reliable hardworking man who loved his family.  He spent his days working at Zimmer, Inc of Warsaw so that he could provide for his family.  After 39 years, he retired but always kept busy doing one thing or another.  Ben loved his Lord and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He moved to Michigan in 2011 and enjoyed living there during his final years.  Ben was a kind man that loved the simple things in life like enjoying a good meal, spending time with family and he did it all with a smile on his face. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend to many who will be dearly missed.

He leaves behind his wife, Karla J. Shafer (Mancelona, Michigan), three sons, Greg (Claudia) Shafer (Claypool, Indiana), Herman Howard (Buckley, Michigan), Joshua Howard (Mancelona, Michigan) and three daughters, Wonnie Shafer (Frostproof, Florida), Stefanie (Andrew) Spangle (Warsaw, Indiana), Bobby Jo Howard (Mancelona, Michigan).  Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and his sister, Anne Shafer (Warsaw, Indiana).  He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Linda Shafer, daughter, Bonnie Lyons Misener on February 23, 2012, two granddaughters, Lyndsay Allison (Poe) Sanchez, who passed away on September 29, 2011 and Katie Hoffert on November 1, 2014.           

Ben’s life will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Elder Jeff Walters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw, Indiana.  Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be directed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1128 N. Cedar Street, Kalkaska, Michigan  49646. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Benjamin "Ben" Robert Shafer, please visit our floral store.