Ronald Shafer's Obituary
Ronald W. Shafer, 82, of Decatur passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2014 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Ronald was born on July 25, 1932 in Logansport, IN the son of Galen and Dorothy (Peyton) Shafer. He served in the Air Force in the Korean Conflict. He received his M. Ed. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in teaching English in 1972 and his M.A. from the University of Illinois in Springfield in Human Development Counseling in 1980. He taught English at Maroa High school from 1958-1961, taught English at Stephen Decatur High School from 1961-1996 and retired in 1996. He was the English Department Chairperson from 1965-1974. In 1991 he was named Macon County Conservation teacher of the year and Illinois Environmental Teacher of the Year. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the University of Chicago in 1983, The Nature Conservancy Central Illinois Volunteer of the Year in 1987 and the Outstanding Steward for The Nature Conservancy in 1994. He served on the Decatur Audubon Board of Directors from 1992-present. He was a member of The Moraine Poets, publishing “Winter Wolf” a book of his poems in 1991. He was proud to have been instrumental in founding the 7th Generation Environmental Society at Stephen Decatur High School.
He loved the night sky, the moon, the animals— especially wolves and their domestic relatives, dogs. He felt a deep connection with the Earth.
He leaves his dear friend of many years, Delores Logue; his beloved son, Benjamin Shafer (Gabriela) Drexel Hill, PA; sister, Janet Sheppard, Mentor, OH; grandchildren, Sofia and Alexa; one niece, and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A service to celebrate Ron’s life will be at 3 PM Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Decatur. Memorial gathering will be 2-5 PM Saturday in the fellowship. Memorials are suggested to: UUFD, Homeward Bound Pet Shelter or Northeast Community Fund.
The family of Ron Shafer is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View the online obituary and send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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