Obituary
On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020, Louis Charles Shaffer, loving husband, father of 2 children, and grandfather to 5 grandchildren passed away at the age of 63 in Fort Myers, Florida after a strong battle with cancer (non covid related).
Louis, also affectionately known as Lou, Louie, Chuck, Grampy, or the (Donut) King, was born on August 23rd, 1957 in Toledo, OH to Earl and Charlotte (Wishnewitz) Shaffer. As a young teenager he began working for Dunkin’ Donuts cleaning the shop and learning to bake. During that time Louis fathered 2 children with his first wife Linda. Over the years he used the baking and business experience and opened a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise in Maumee, and then moved on to run another franchise in Toledo. In 1991 he married the love of his life Jill (Chambers). In the mid 2000’s they moved to Bowling Green, OH and opened up their own coffee shop (Court St. Coffeehouse) downtown. Looking for a change of pace, he switched to being an over the road truck driver and eventually transitioned into daily routes so he could be home at night. Louis had a lifelong dream of moving to Florida, and in 2018 he and Jill moved down there full time. In an interesting twist he ended up finishing his career as a delivery driver for the Dunkin’ Donuts distribution center.
Louis had many passions, but by far the biggest was the love and time he spent with his grandchildren. A perpetual bad influence, he himself became the 6th grandchild and often was put into time out for being the troublemaker. He was the living embodiment of the “fun grandparent” and would give any and everything for them.
Sports were a big factor in Louis’s life, both playing and watching. In his early years he was an avid softball player and formed many lasting friendships that still exist 30+ years later. As he got older his focus switched to golf, and he ran his own golf leagues with many of the same teammates he played softball with. He also loved to bowl, and in the fall and winter months he would be part of 2-3 bowling leagues at any given time. Louis was a die-hard fan for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Detroit Tigers, and the Minnesota Vikings. Making sure his grandchildren were also Ohio State fans was one of his biggest goals in life. Other hobbies included playing poker, growing his own vegetable garden, and spending time outdoors as much as possible.
Louis had a passion for interacting with people, and there was not a single person he could not hold a conversation with. Simple things like going to the grocery store would end up taking him an hour just to buy a couple things due to the time he spent chatting with other people he passed by on his trip. This friendly demeanor and genuine interest in other’s led to him having a list of friends a mile long and played well in his endeavors as a business owner. Even during treatment for his cancer, he was making friends with the nurses and staff at the center and was on a first name basis with everyone there.
Louis was preceded in death by his father Earl, his mother Charlotte, and his brother Robert (Bob). He is survived by his beloved wife Jill (Chambers), his best mother in law Joyce Chambers, his two children and five grandchildren; legally verified daughter Nina Smith and her husband Kevin with their children Brent, Lottie, and Kenzie, legally verified son Patrick and his wife Julee with their children Holden and Lucille, his brothers Jamie and Mike, his sisters Lauren (Sieczkowski) and Patti (Cooper), and many nieces and nephews.
At his request there will be no services held, instead a party in celebration of his life will occur in the Spring of 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Hope Hospice.
Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words, missed beyond measure. We love you!
You will always be with me...We will miss you terribly but we can’t wait to see you again