Arlene Beth Shaffer

Arlene Beth Noteboom Shaffer, 89, of Zion, Illinois, went peacefully home to be with her Lord at her home on Thursday, August 4, 2016. Arlene was born November 7, 1926 to Peter H. and Verlinda M. Noteboom in Zion, IL. She graduated from Zion-Benton Township High School in 1944. On August 16, 1946 she married the love of her life, Ralph George Shaffer, who preceded her in death. They were married for 63 years. She is survived by four children Kay (Dennis) Shaffer Miller of Urbana, IL, Virginia Shaffer Scott of Waukegan, Ron (Debi) Shaffer of Gurnee and Steve (Susan) Shaffer of Grayslake. She was the very proud grandmother of ten grandchildren – Eric (Sarah), Andy (Michelle) and Doug (Andrea) Miller, Evy and Glen Scott (Elizabeth), Kris (Colleen), Jonathan, David (Jamie), Dan (Alexis) and Mike (Claire) Shaffer. She is also survived by fifteen great grandchildren – Mary, Ellie, Maggie, Sebastian, Jackson, Elliot and Grace Miller, Alexander and Lance Francisco and Ciaran, Finn, Lachlan, Teague, Keane and Wynne Shaffer. Arlene was a long time member of the Christ Community Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also active in women’s circle ministry, served as camp cook at Camp Zion, participated in many women's Bible studies, led the funeral dinner team and worked on the archive committee. Arlene was a bookkeeper and payroll clerk for the High School for over 20 years, retiring in 1991. Prior to that she held various jobs that allowed her be a homemaker for her family. Her employers included Abbott Labs, Reed Randall Ford, and Zion Curtain Factory. She was an active member of the Zion Fire Belles, an organization of volunteer Fire Department wives who raised funds to purchase firemen’s boots, coats, helmets and eventually alarm radios. They also worked to pass a tax referendum for purchasing the fire engines and other necessary equipment. Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harold James and John Kenneth Noteboom, and her sisters Virgie Marie Noteboom, Pearl Elizabeth Morrison and Carol Joy Capp. A special thanks goes to her caregiver Martha Phiri for her tender and loving care of mother for the past three years. Visitation will be Monday, August 8 at 10:00 am at Christ Community Church, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion. The memorial service celebrating her life will follow at 11:30 am at the church with Pastor Ken Langley officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Camp Zion Advance Fund in care of Christ Community Church.