Philip A. Shafer

Philip A. Shafer, 90, of Mishawaka passed away Wednesday, February 7, 2018, in Grand Emerald Place Assisted Living, South Bend.

Phil was born September 26, 1927 in Mishawaka, to the late Arthur L. and Helen M. (Hans) Shafer. He was a 1945 graduate of Mishawaka High School. While in high school he worked the “Victory Shift” at Ball Band. He served his country in the US Navy from 1945 – 1947 in the South Pacific. He then worked in Chicago for a short time before returning to Mishawaka where he bought a grocery store at the corner of Mishawaka Avenue and Logan. A few years later he sold the store and went to work for Yeager Buick in South Bend. In 1956, he went to work at Liberty Mobile Homes and began a career in the manufactured housing industry that lasted over forty years. In 1959, he helped start and was co-owner of New Yorker Homes in Elkhart. When the company was sold, he returned to Liberty Homes for several more years. Phil also was co-owner of Union Station Restaurant in Mishawaka.

Phil lived in Mishawaka until the 1980’s when he moved to Lake James near Fremont and returned to Mishawaka in 2007.

Phil was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Mishawaka Alumni Association and VFW Post 360.

Phil was married to the love of his life, Patricia Ann (Molnar) Shafer, who preceded him in death on February 8, 1987. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Robert H. Shafer.

Phil is survived by a daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Blair and husband, Gary of Mishawaka; three grandsons, Jason Blair and wife, Shara of Mishawaka, Douglas Blair of Wyatt, and John Blair and wife, Laura of Mishawaka; four great grandchildren, Kyle, Hannah and Emily Schierbaum and Cora Blair; a sister-in-law, Frances (Gibbs) Shafer of Palo Alto, California; and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews from his beloved wife’s family.

Phil’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Grand Emerald for their care and compassion and the wonderful team from Heart to Heart Hospice for all their assistance, support and direction this last few weeks.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon on Monday, February 12, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka, with Rev. Christopher Lapp officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by VFW 360/American Legion 161 Burial Squad.

Visitation will be from 10 am – 11:30 am Monday in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Heart to Heart Hospice, 620 West Edison Road, Suite 122, Mishawaka, IN 46545.