Thomas D. Shaffer

Thomas Donald Shaffer passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, November 10th, 2021, at Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.

Logical, practical, uncomplicated. Life is easier this way. These are some of the words that best embody Tom. From logical mechanical solutions while others deliberate. Practical personal relationships instead of unrealistic. Never getting in over his head because that would be complicated.

Golf cronies, work buddies, happy hour chums, I am sure they all experienced the same. This straightforward approach to life left an everlasting impression on his family, friends, and co-workers.

Tom was born May 13th, 1951, the only child to Martha Bell and Herbert Donald Shaffer at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was a graduate of Center High School, class of 1969. Tom married at 18 years of age to Joanne Driscoll. They were married for 17 years. They raised two awe-inspiring children Paul and Jonathan. To support the family, he took a job as a lineman with the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He worked the Country Club Plaza and Westport areas and was known as the “midtown man”. He worked for “Ma Bell” for over 30 years before retiring.

Upon retirement from S.W. Bell in 2004, he owned 2 multi-unit housing properties in the midtown area and eventually sold them in 2008. Following that, he began working for Ironhorse Golf Course in 2009 as a marshal and general handyman until 2021.

He is preceded in death by his father and his wife of 30 years, Kaye Louise Shaffer. The best stepmother. Ever.

Tom is survived by his mother Martha Morris Shaffer, sons Paul (Dawna Rutledge) and Jonathan (Kristen) Shaffer, Kaye’s children Susan (Johnny) Delgado, Jaimie (Jim) DeBerry, Joe (Dayna) Breitenstein and Nicole Breitenstein (Dan Dunbar). He also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Johnny Delgado Jr., Alyx Delgado, Jade Delgado, Karleigh, Jake and Stella Breitenstein, Rowan and Beckett Dunbar and Ella and Reid Shaffer.

Visitation will be 12 PM, with services to follow at 1 PM, Wednesday, November 17th at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Road., Kansas City, Missouri; burial immediately following in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Happy hour to follow at Ironhorse Golf Course, 154th and Mission Rd., Leawood, KS from 3 to 6.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Wednesday, November 17 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.