Duane Richard Shafer

Duane Richard Shafer was born in Germantown, Ohio on October 1, 1931, to parents Margaret and Willard Shafer. He passed into eternal life on August 7, 2021, after having surgery and being in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, California.

He married Mary Jo-Anne Cope (Jo) in Dayton, Ohio on December 30, 1950. They had one son, Richard, whom they adopted on September 27, 1957. Richard’s adoption was exactly nine years, to the day, after meeting Jo.

Surviving Duane are Jo, his wife of more than 70 years; three grandchildren, Crystal, Justin and Kevin; his brother James of Union, Ohio; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and a daughter-in-love, Diana. Richard passed away in 2019.

When Duane was about 5 years old his family moved from Germantown to Eaton, Ohio where he lived until after he married Jo and was drafted in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he and Jo decided Southern California was a much better place to be than Ohio with its hot summers, cold winters and tornadoes.

He was a welder for Frigidaire Division of GM while living in Ohio. He worked as a welder for a short period of time here in Orange County but became a letter carrier in Garden Grove on April 1, 1958. He retired from the postal service in 1988.

Duane enjoyed fishing and hunting. In fact, the week after he gave Jo her engagement ring, he left for a 3 week fishing trip to Canada. As a family they enjoyed trailer camping, rock-hounding and jewelry making. He was a gardener and provided the family and many of the neighbors with vegetables. Duane also enjoyed growing orchids.

Duane was an easy-going man… except… dinner at 6:29 was OK, but dinner at 6:31 was not.

Although he was not a talkative person he made good friends, over the years he and Jo enjoyed many friends from all walks of life. So long as he was able, Duane was always ready and willing to help anyone with a problem. He was a handy man of many talents and could fix almost anything.

While Richard was in Boy Scouts, he would work the Christmas tree lot for Troop 33 by flocking the trees. He was the bus driver for the Santa Ana Church of the Brethren for many years.

He was a devout Christian and enjoyed the fellowship of many friends over the years. He and Jo were members of Grace Church of Orange. Although he is now “walking the golden streets”, they don’t have mail delivery in Heaven.

Duane was a loving husband, grandfather and a friend to many. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.