Robert N. Shafer, age 95, of Galesburg, Ill., died Sunday Oct. 14, 2012, at 4:14 a.m. at Seminary Manor Nursing Home.  Funeral services at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Tom Larsen officiating.  Burial in East Linwood Cemetery with military service conducted by American Legion Post No. 285.

He was born Dec. 14, 1916, in Claremont, Ill., the son of Otto S. and Hattie Taylor Shafer. He married A. LaVerne Burgener on June 13, 1942, in Kimball, Neb.

Robert is survived by his wife LaVerne; one daughter, Diana Wojciechowski of San Antonio, Texas; three sons, David N. and Joyce Shafer of Queen Creek, Ariz., James R. and Carol Shafer of Tremont, Ill., and Donald L. and Barbara Shafer of Peoria, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, A. Lee Shafer.

He graduated from Olney Township High School in 1935 and attended the University of Illinois for two years.

He was the president of the National Bank of Chenoa, Ill., for 21 years, then the First State Bank in Mendota, Ill., for 10 years and continued to serve on the board for five years until he retired in 1986.  He served in the United States Army Air Corps for 4 1/2 years during World War II in England, making the rank of major.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a current 60-plus year member of the Rotary Club, American Legion Post No. 285 of Galesburg and VFW Post No. 4079 and Elks Lodge No. 1212, both in Mendota, Ill.

Published in Peoria Journal Star (IL) - October 15, 2012