James Paul Shaffer

Early in the morning on February 19th, at home in Midland, in his favorite chair, James Paul Shaffer took his last breath. Jim was a bright light, and the world is a far dimmer place without him in it.
Jim was born on April 21, 1959, here in Midland, to Norma Jean (McCann) and Frank Warren Shaffer-who had passed away just a couple of months before James was born. He spent his childhood sledding on car hoods, climbing trees, working summers at local farms, and helping his family.
In high school while helping his sister and brother-in-law shingle their roof, Linda came by on a bike ride with her friend. Her friend, who had a crush on Jim, told her to look. She looked, but her friend stopped in front of her. Linda hit the back of her friend's bike and fell. Jim saw it all happen from his perch on the roof. Just a few short years later, on a sweltering August day in 1979 he married that unfortunate cyclist, and she became Linda Marie (Kirk) Shaffer.
In 1977 James graduated from Bullock Creek High School. He left there to enter the job market. Jim, even though he was the youngest of fourteen kids, took on the responsibility of caring for his mother. He worked hard to catapult the two of them out of homelessness and he carried that role for the duration of her life. Jim came to be one of the few double-vested Union members as both a Teamster with Local 46 and a Laborer with Local 1098. The majority of his working years were spent at Valley Mechanical Contracting, where he ended his time there as a fair and equitable foreman. A back injury forced Jim to take an early retirement in 2005.
A man of his convictions, James valued confrontation. He loved a good debate. He felt strongly about his values and sometimes that meant putting his body on the picket line, protesting, or counter-protesting as such was the case when the KKK tried to hold a rally here in downtown Midland. It later showed up in encouraging his kids to get involved and to dig into the places where they noticed or felt injustice most deeply.
Before Jim and Linda had children of their own, they were a safe haven and place of joy and fun for their numerous nieces and nephews. Eight years into their marriage, after a particularly rough babysitting adventure, Jim turned to Linda and said, "Maybe we shouldn't have any of our own." Linda said, "It's too late for that." That December they welcomed their daughter, Kelli Elizabeth (Evans) Shaffer into the world. Three and a half years later, on Father's Day, they completed their family with a son, Matthew James Shaffer.
Jim loved being a dad. He coached T-ball and softball. He cheered the loudest for his kids in all their other sports and activities. He was their fiercest advocate. Jim and Linda created an environment where people loved to gather, whether it was card games, Fourth of July pool parties, lingering bonfires, or their kids' friends that never wanted to leave, everyone knew there was always a seat for them at the table and always enough to go around.
In his most recent years Jim cherished being a grandpa to his granddaughters Fern and Lena Evans. He was the best grandpa. He always made it to their soccer games and bowling league matches, even when he was at his sickest, if he could physically make it there, he did. He lobbied for extra cookies, went the extra mile to see their grand plans to fruition, taught them to drive the golf cart and lawn mower and more often than not, helped them find their way into some good trouble.
James was a gregarious, fun-loving guy, who fully appreciated the art of a witty one-liner, and the finesse of a successful prank. He was easy to talk to, quick to help anyone in need, and fiercely dedicated to those he loved. He was a devoted son, brother, uncle, partner, father, and grandfather. Jim was a fixer, a woodworker, a mechanic, a comedian, a coach, a hot sauce aficionado, a hunter, a terrible backseat driver, a gardener, and a blue collar union democrat.
He was a good man, who is greatly missed.
James Paul Shaffer is survived by his wife Linda Marie (Kirk) Shaffer, Daughter Kelli (Ed) Evans, Granddaughters Fern and Lena Evans, his siblings Sharon Hummer, James (Cindy) Mapes, Jean (John) Andreasen, Gerald (Deborah) Shaffer, Marie (Roger) Bebeau, Dianna McManus, Lawrence Shaffer, Terry (Dawn) Shaffer. Sister and brother in-laws Barbara (TG) Rehkop, Steven (Maria) Kirk, Paul (Donna) Kirk, a couple of aunts, an army of cousins, so many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father Frank Warren Shaffer; his Mother Norma Jean (McCann) Shaffer, his son Matthew James Shaffer, Grandparents George and Gladys (Mapes) McCann and Howard & Elenora (Castle) Shaffer, Siblings Mary Catherine Shaffer, Beverly (Jesse) Cody, Carol (Phil) Bauknecht, Frank (Kathy) Shaffer and Fred Shaffer, and multiple aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Everyone who knows Jim, has a story they could tell, the family looks forward to hearing yours.
The funeral will take place at 11am on Saturday March 1, 2025 at Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler Street, Midland, MI 48640. The Family of Jim will receive visitors on Friday February 28, 2025 from 4-7pm, and on Saturday March 1, 2025 at 10am until the time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider to The Red Cross, Pardee Cancer Center of Midland, or Gift Of Life. All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Shaffer family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one.