Leroy Donald Shaffer

LeRoy Donald Shaffer died November 21, 2022, at the age of 84, after spending his last days with his wife Patricia and daughter Staci by his side.

LeRoy was born in Greeley, Colorado on October 19, 1938 to Glenn William (Bud) Shaffer and Louise Elsie Shaffer (née Herman). As a young child he lived in various locations including Walden, Colorado and Culbertson, Nebraska where his family farmed. LeRoy graduated from Ault High School in 1956. He lettered in track, running hurdles for the Ault Bearcats. He had a lifetime love of cars. LeRoy's first car was a 1946 two-door black Ford. He owned a 1938 Ford coupe stock original, a 1940 Ford, and a 1952 black and yellow Mercury.

He was driving a black and white 1957 Ford Fairlane when he started dating the love of his life Patricia (Patty, Pat) Giesick. LeRoy took Patty on many dates to Harry's No Delay Drive-In. To impress Patty he ordered the shrimp because it was the most expensive thing on the menu.

LeRoy proposed to Patty on the day she graduated from Colorado State University in 1959. They married on January 31, 1960, and drove a white 1959 Ford retractable hardtop with blue interior to Phoenix, Arizona where they honeymooned. Everyone in Phoenix stared at the young couple from Colorado because it was far too cold to have the top down on the convertible.

In 1963, LeRoy and Patty bought a brand new split-window Corvette Stingray in Daytona Blue over blue interior with a 4-speed. Being a farmer, LeRoy's dad was not impressed with such an impractical racy car.

LeRoy worked at Woodward Governor from 1956 until 1959 when he left Woodward to help his dad with farming. In 1962, he returned to Woodward Governor where he worked for the next 36 years. In 1999, he bought a black Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck to celebrate his retirement.

LeRoy and Pat added a little girl to their lives in 1972. They were so excited to be new parents that LeRoy ran over the curb at JCPenny's and threw the white Ford completely out of alignment.

In 1997, LeRoy began volunteering with Fort Collins Police Services after attending the Citizen's Police Academy. He enjoyed ride-alongs. He took on a part-time role in the Criminal Investigations Division where he earned the respect of individuals on both sides of the law. He was named employee of the month in July 2013. He worked with Fort Collins Police Services until February 2020 for a total of 23 years.

When LeRoy's grandson Liam came into the world he could not have been more proud. Liam is the smartest grandson in the world. Liam thinks Grandpa LeRoy is a big teddy bear.

LeRoy will be sadly missed by his many friends and relatives in the area. He had resided in a rest home at Ft. Collins for quite some time and had been ill for several months. So when the trail was hard to climb and the road grew long, the good Lord took him to His heavenly home where there is no pain or sorrow. Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn where no heartache can enter and the pain grows dim. In that beautiful forever, he will walk with Him. We are able to cope in whatever we do, so please God, love LeRoy as we loved him too.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents Bud and Louise Shaffer. Survivors are Patricia, beloved wife of nearly 63 years, daughter Staci, and grandson Liam, all of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Viewing at Bohlender Funeral Chapel from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday, 11/30/2022. A funeral service will be held 11 am, Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 1200 S Taft Hill Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521.