Obituary of Rodney L. Shaffer

Rodney L. Shaffer, 59, of Stafford, Virginia formerly of Coralville and Iowa City died Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. A celebration of Rod's life will take place at 2:00 pm Tuesday February 5, 2008, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service with burial at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00 pm Monday, February 4, 2008 at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to The Center for Wound Healing, 1 BLES, Georgetown University Hospital, 3200 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC 20007. A memorial celebration will be held in Arlington, Virginia at a later time. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Rod Shaffer was born January 26, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Robert F. and Wilma (Swenka) Shaffer. His parents moved to Coralville, Iowa when he was young. Rod was a 1967 graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City. In 1973 he earned his BS degree in history and political science from the University of Iowa. Upon his marriage to Jan E. Boles on May 12, 1973 in Gallatin, Tennessee, he entered the Army as an infantry officer, where he served in Army units at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Camp Hovey and Camp Greaves, South Korea, and Fort Riley, Kansas. After serving as the advisor and executive officer to the reserve Army unit in Iowa City, he earned his MA in industrial relations and human resources from the University of Iowa. In 1985, Rod joined Delta Health Network in New Orleans, LA as Vice-President of Human Resources. In 1988, he moved to Virginia to be Director and Vice-President of Human Resources for Green Thumb, Inc. (later becoming Experience Works) which provides employment and training for older workers nationwide. After his retirement in 2003, he was named Executive Officer in the Human Resources Division for the Installation Management Command through a government contractor, L3 Communications in Arlington, VA. He was a guest speaker to institutions of higher education including The George Washington University in Washington, DC and presenter in numerous human resources management seminars and workshops. Rod enjoyed being with friends and family, attending professional football and baseball games, reading, visiting historic sites, and attending movies. He was well known for his quick wit and leadership. Serving on the Bureau of National Affairs Personnel Policies Forum, he was also a member and certified Senior Professional of the Society of Human Resources Management and held memberships in other professional, civic, and military associations. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Jan Boles Shaffer; brother, Steve (Nancy) Shaffer of Iowa City; sisters, Kathy (Kevin) Shaffer-Cumby of Chillicothe, MO, Connie Shaffer of Chillicothe, MO, Jane Shaffer and her fiance Peter Emmanuelli of Iowa City; nephew, Bob Shaffer of Iowa City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Wilma Shaffer.