Obituary of JOHN SHAFER

John D Shafer, 68, of Rhinebeck, New York died Monday, May 30, 2016, at the MidHudson Regional Hospital. John was born in Poughkeepsie, New York on May 2, 1948. He was the son of the late John and the late Leona Bailey Shafer. John was a graduate of Poughkeepsie High School. On July 4, 1976, he married Joanne R Capone at St. Martin dePorres Church. John was a retired employee of the NYS Department of Transportation where he worked as a Drill Rig Operator. John previously worked at Mardi Bob Bowling Alley, and after retirement, he drove a bus for the Arlington School District. In 1972, John started working for Bob Maxwell's Walk-Away-Sundaes at the Dutchess County Fair and the Ulster County Fair. John was a member of many organizations, past and president, including the Vagabond Drum Corp, Hyde Park Elks, West Clinton Fire Dept, Arlington Engine #1, Rochedale Fire Dept, Slater Chemical Fire Company, Volunteer Judging Assoc, Director of Hudson Valley Firemen's Assoc, Dutchess County Fire Police Assoc, Dutchess Putnam County Fire Police Assoc, Past President and Financial Secretary of the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen's Assoc, Royal Order of the Blue Vest and the Royal Order of the Red Vest, and treasure of the Burn Treatment Fund of Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange Counties. John loved photography, collecting Firematic memorabilia and Hess toy trucks. John is survived by his wife Joanne R Shafer of Rhinebeck, NY, daughter Justina Lee Lecesse and her husband Joe of Benson, NC, son John J Shafer of Rhinebeck, NY, sister Sarajane Kilmer of Hyde Park, NY, brother Dennis Shafer of Poughkeepsie, NY and several nieces and nephews. John is predeceased by four brothers Bruce, Ronald, Alan and Barry. Calls hours will be 5 to 9pm with the Memorial Service starting at 7 on Friday, June 10, 2016 at the West Clinton Fire Department, 219 Hollow Road, Staatsburg, NY. Burial will be private. The family asks that the memorial donations be made to the Memorial Fund for John D Shafer at Gofundme.com/JohnDShafer53016. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.