John Dempster Chaffee

John Dempster Chaffee, 96, passed away on June 10, 2024 at the Havenwood of Buffalo, in Buffalo, MN with loving family at his bedside. Memorial services will be held 12 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2024 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines, IA with a visitation from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, IA.

On May 20, 1950, Jack, as he was known to his family and friends, married Elizabeth “Libbie” Holden in Des Moines, IA. Jack was a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, participated in the Korean War, and was a proud veteran. His military records were lost in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973 and when Jack was 96 years of age, he was successfully entered into the VA Health Care System after spending years trying to recover his destroyed military records.

His vocation was in jewelry and he was a certified gemologist, starting out at Joseph’s Jewelers in Des Moines, IA then moving to Cincinnati, OH to manage the prestigious Loring, Andrews and Ratterman Jewelry store. Jack retired from the business after closing his own jewelry store, Chaffee Jewelers, in St. Louis Park, MN. In retirement, Jack and his loving wife, Libbie, enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and Europe. Jack and Libbie’s pride and joy was their lake home on Gull Lake in Nisswa MN. Many fond memories of family and friends were made in the many summers spent relaxing on the beach or their deck overlooking the lake.

He will be greatly missed by his beloved, longtime companion, Nancy Harvey; brother, Jerry; and his four living children, Shelli Lampi, Jim, John and Tony; and twelve grandchildren, Nick, Marci, Nathan, Andy, Tom, Beth, Danielle, Bryan, Cameron, Corbin, Savannah and Stephen; as well 19 great grandchildren, with two more on the way. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Libbie; son, Jeffry; parents, Hulda and Dempster Chaffee; brother, Jim; and sister, Jeanne.

Memorials may be directed to Moments Hospice or the Gary Sinise Foundation.