Memorial
Marilyn Jean Shaffer, 69, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday November 15, 2017 in her home after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at First Lutheran Church, where a visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Craig Brown will officiate. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Inurnment: Private.
Survivors include her husband, Norm, her children; Daniel (Teresa) Wilkes of Hiawatha, Iowa, Jeni (Greg) Hartford of Walford and Amanda Shaffer and fiancée Sonye Tamunoigoni of Dallas, Texas, her brother, Wayne (Syloney) Ruen of Princeton, Illinois, her grandchildren; Jacob and Jordan Shaffer, Ellie, Katie, Henry and Auggie Wilkes, Austen Tamunoigoni, Ashley Brady and Allie LeGrand. Also surviving is a niece, Jessica Ruen of Indiana, many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, John Shaffer.
Marilyn was born May 19, 1948 in Waukon, Iowa, the daughter of Vernon and Lila (Dahlen) Ruen. She married Norm Shaffer on April 24, 1982 at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Marilyn was a Executive Secretary for Rockwell Collins and a member of First Lutheran Church. She attended Wartburg and Kirkwood Community College. She served on the board of the Collin’s Employee United Fund, HACAP and Planned Parenthood. She volunteered at Willis Daly Center, Miracles in Motion and Rockwell Collins Child Center. She enjoyed horses, flowers, shopping and talking with Nancy on the porch. She also loved going to Sutliff for their amazing hot beef sandwiches. She will be greatly missed by her family and the many lives she touched.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Mercy Hospice in memory of Marilyn.