Harry "Shafe" Cole

Harry “Shafe” Cole, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Monday, May 18, 2009, at Wellington Place in Decorah, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2009, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday and also on Friday morning from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. There will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Harry Shafer Cole was born on April 12, 1917, the son of Harry Dean and Rose Ann (Shaffer) Cole in Postville, IA. Shafe graduated from Postville High School in 1934 and while in high school, he received CMT Corp training in Des Moines and Ohio. After graduation, Shafe along with Pete Meland, sold their cars and went to Alaska for one year, where they hunted and dug for gold. He served as a Chief Warrant Officer from 1939-45, during World War II. Shafe married Elfrieda Schissel on August 29, 1944, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, in Decorah and to this union, two children were born: Sandra and Harry Lee. After the war, he worked as a carpenter at the Alcoa Plant in Davenport, IA. Shafe and Elfrieda returned to Decorah and he worked at Grousters and Dahley’s Body Shop. In 1965, Shafe teamed up with Dick Helgeson and together they operated East Side Body, where he was a true craftsman in his profession until he retired in 1996. Even after he ‘retired’ he still returned to the shop to have ‘coffee’. After Elfrieda’s death in 1980, he married Doris Cashman Kester on October 29, 1983 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Shafe enjoyed hunting, fishing, making guns, loading his own ammo, and trap shooting. He also liked to help in the pits at the stock car races for Walt Hovey and Dick Helgeson, along with restoring cars. Shafe was devout in his Catholic faith and devoted to Mary. He was a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, The Holy Name Society, Helof Holm VFW Chapter #1977, the NRA and Northeast Iowa Body Shop Association. Shafe is survived by his wife: Doris Cole, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Sandy Zahasky, North Richland Hills, TX. One daughter-in-law: Juanita Cole, Cedar Rapids, IA. Four step-children: Stephen (Ann) Kester, Ladysmith, WI, Dan (Jami) Kester, Grain Valley, MO, David (Pam) Kester, Decorah, IA and Darlene (Paul) Woodhouse, Decorah, IA. Six grandchildren: Amy Lee (Eric) Hudson, Andrew James (Andria) Zahasky, Nicolas (Kara) Zahasky, Harry John (Gina) Cole, Jennifer Cole (Brett) Peterson, and Andrew James (Clare) Cole. Eight step-grandchildren: Aaron & Katherine Kester, Shaina & Ryan Kester; Leo & Ming Kester; Alicia & Josh Woodhouse. Eighteen great grandchildren: Zoe, Isabella, Aiden and Avery Zahasky; Hailey & Madison Hudson; Ari, Beckett & Rocco Zahasky; Erica Cole; Nils & Lottie Peterson; Harry Stanley, Joseph, Miriam, Thomas, John Paul and Gwendolyn Cole. One step-great grandson: Truman Kester. One brother: Bill (Kathryn) Cole, Charles City, IA. Two sisters: Jane Walsh, Westchester, IL and Margaret Heaverlo, Cedar Rapids, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. Shafe was preceded in death by his parents: Harry and Rose Ann Cole. His first wife: Elfrieda Cole on April 7, 1980. His son: Harry Lee Cole on July 12, 1988.