Stephen Gregory Shafer

Stephen Gregory Shafer, 80, of Hartford, died at home on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. Steve was born Dec. 5, 1937, in Coloma Township, Berrien County, Mich. He was the seventh child of Dell Ernest and Ruth Leota (Kellogg) Shafer of Hartford.

Steve graduated from Hartford High School in 1956. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1956 and served as a Baritone Saxophone player in the Department of the Pacific Marine Band, based in San Francisco. He was released from active duty in September, 1958. Steve returned to Michigan and attended Kalamazoo College for one year. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in February 1962.

His parents sold the 80 acre family fruit farm to Steve in 1960, beginning his 44-year career as a fruit grower. He transferred to Michigan State University (MSU) at that time to major in Pomology (fruit growing). He attended MSU during fall and winter terms while operating the farm in spring and summer. He was a member of the Honors College at MSU and graduated with High Honor in March 1963.

Steve married Virginia Pittsinger of Farmington, Conn., in June 1963, after her graduation from Michigan State.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation chose Steve as a member of the Kellogg Farmers' Study Program's first class in 1966. The MSU-administered program encouraged farmers as leaders in their communities, state and nation. It included class study and travel throughout Michigan, the U.S. and the world.

Steve operated, in partnership with his brother, Robert, 500 acres of diversified fruit farms and a fruit packing operation from 1968 until 1978. He then operated his original family farm property and adjacent acreage until he sold the farm in 2004.

Steve was elected president of the Michigan Association of Cherry Producers in 1973. He was a founding member of the Knouse Growers Cooperative of Michigan, and was the cooperative's president from 1983 to 2004. He held a Board of Directors seat representing the Michigan cooperative for Knouse Foods Cooperative, of Peach Glen, Penn., from 1986 until 2004.

Steve held several community leadership roles. He served on the Hartford School Board from 1976 until 1986, with several of those years as board president. He was Township Supervisor from 1988 to 2004 and Township Assessor from 1988 to 2010. Steve was a Hartford Public Schools Foundation for Quality Education board member from 2006 to 2014.

After retiring, Steve concentrated on caring for the landscape on his 20-acre home property on the Paw Paw River. He was often seen walking his dog on a 4-mile circuit in the neighborhood.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Shafer, and sisters Roena Moore, Naomi Melton-Rose, Thelma Dyer, Ellen Marvin and Mary Anne Monroe. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Virginia; daughter, Pamela Colgren; son, Gregory (Karen) Shafer; and grandchildren, Faith and Autumn Shimer, and Stephen and Matthew Shafer. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and special friends Phillip and Ellen Friday.

The family will welcome friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford. A graveside service to honor his memory will commence at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29 at Maple Hill Cemetery, with Pastor Lonnie Truelove, Sr. officiating. Military rites will be performed by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Steve's name may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or the Alzheimer's Association. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.