Wesley Jay Shaffer – Battle Lake, MN

Wesley Jay Shaffer age 86 lost his battle with cancer, passing away at his home in Battle Lake, MN Wednesday February 5, 2025. Wes was born May 1, 1938 in Wheeler, Texas to William Jewell and Mary Elizabeth (Hensley) Shaffer. The Shaffer family later moved to California where this Texas boy met and married a Minnesota girl. Wes and Helaine (Lainy) were married February 20, 1959 in Garden Grove, California. To this union three children were born, Charlotte, Anita and Charlie. On their wedding day Lainy made Wes promise her that they would never farm. Thirteen years later they found themselves the proud owners of a farm in Ashby, MN. Prior to leaving California, Wes and Lainy started and ran a business they called All-Rite Landscaping and Aero Sweepers. While farming in Ashby they raised beef, cattle and eventually ran a dairy. After turning their dairy over to daughter #2 and her husband, they moved into Ashby running the liquor store and laundromat together until they returned again to their farm to raise pheasants for the Viking Valley Hunt Club. Wanting to escape Minnesota winters. Wes and Lainy moved south to Oklahoma then to Missouri. Wes enjoyed golfing in Texas with his brothers. After Lainy’s death from cancer, Wes headed back to Minnesota where his two daughters live along with his many grandchildren. Wes exchanged his Missouri farm for rental properties in Minnesota. He en-joyed being a landlord and getting to know his tenants until the day he died. Wes enjoyed staying busy and his motto was “everyday do something, even if it’s wrong”. Preceding him in death are his parents, William Jewell and Mary Shaffer; his wife, Lainy; two brothers, Morris and Ken Shaffer; sister, Billie Ruth; grandson, Justin Woldahl and son-in-law, Gene Woldahl. He is survived by his three children, Charlotte Woldahl, Anita (Kevin) Hoeper and Charlie (Shannon) Shaffer; two brothers, Gilbert and John Shaffer; two sisters, Nelda Poole and Lavern Cain; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Blessed be the memory of Wesley J. Shaffer. Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Friday February 21, 2025 at Grue Lutheran Church in rural Ashby with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Grue Lutheran Cemetery at a later date Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Battle Lake is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be made online at www.GlendeNils on.com.