Lamont Shafer

LaMont ('Moni') Barbara Shafer (nee Ehrenstrauss), 88, of Wheaton, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2012 at home with her family at her side. She was born January 13, 1924 at home in Milwaukee to Henry and Alice Ehrenstrauss (nee Rhadans). She attended Carroll College where she met her future husband James ('Jim') Vincent Shafer, then a 2nd Lieutenant Junior Grade in the US Navy and a recent Carroll College graduate. Soon after World War II ended, they married on September 20, 1947 and remained married for 52 very happy years until Jim died in 1999. During Jim's long career with the Equitable Life Assurance Company, he and Moni lived in many cities--Fond du Lac, WI, Waukesha, WI, LaCrosse, WI, Wauwatosa, WI, Birmingham, MI, Park Ridge, IL, and New Canaan, CT, before settling in Wheaton, IL in 1979 where they ultimately retired. During this time they raised four children--Brad, Susan, Vicki and David. Wherever they lived, Moni was active in the Church. Since moving to Wheaton and becoming a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, Moni was active in the Martha Circle. As a keen listener with a compassionate heart Moni followed her passion becoming a Stephen Minister and a deacon. Private family funeral services for Moni were held on Monday, December 17, 2012 at Pagenkopf Funeral Home in Oconomowoc, WI with burial at LaBelle Cemetery also in Oconomowoc. A memorial service celebrating Moni's life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Wheaton, IL, on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 10 am. Those who will miss her dearly include her children Brad Shafer, Wheaton, IL and his children Josephine and James; Susan (Lou) Marinelli and their children Luigi and Amanda, Amston, CT; Vicki Shafer and her children Michael, Matthew and Katie, Wheaton, IL; and David (Maureen) Shafer, Aurora, IL; brother Clifford (Mary) Schoenike, Oconomowoc, WI; former daughter-in-law Cynthia Shafer, Harbor Springs, MI. She was predeceased by her husband, Jim. In lieu of flowers donations in Moni's name can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, 715 North Carlton Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187 www.firstpreswheaton.org or The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, 119 N. West Street, Wheaton, IL 60187 www.helpaveteran.org.