John Schaffner

John Schaffner, 88, of Convoy, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, February 6, 2011, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born November 30, 1922, in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late John W. and Doris (Peisert) Schaffner. On January 24, 1941, he married Glenda (Rauch) Schaffner, who preceded him in death on April 30, 1983.

Mr. Schaffner was a farmer and retired from International Harvester after 30 years of service. He formerly drove for the American Red Cross and was a past member of the Convoy Lions Club, Pleasant Grange and Van Wert County Farm Bureau. He is a member of the Knight Pride Club and enjoyed attending all Crestview Knight sporting events, as well as hanging out with friends at local restaurants, walking and playing cards.

Survivors include four children, Terry (Karen) Schaffner of Dunwoody, Ga., Carolyn (Bob) Todd of Nashport, Jo (Jeff) Gold of Cookeville, Tenn., and Tom (Deb) Schaffner of Van Wert; seven grandchildren, Kim (Juston) Wickham of Cambridge, Dusty (Angela) Schaffner of Decatur, Ga., Erin Schaffner of Lawrenceville, Ga., Melissa (Arthur) Goldsipe of Arlington, Mass., Danny (Nicole) Gold of Denver, Colo., and Adam Schaffner and Eric (Leah) Schaffner, both of Columbus; and two great-grandchildren, Carlson and Caleb Schaffner, both of Decatur, Ga.

A daughter, Marilyn Schaffner; one brother, Leonard Schaffner; a sister, Florence Etzler; and one grandson, Andrew Jason Schaffner, also preceded him in death.

Private family funeral services will be conducted at a later date.

There will be no calling hours.

Preferred memorials: Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, Sugar Ridge Church of God or the Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Arrangements were handled by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.alspachgearhart.com.