IOWA CITY, Iowa – Richard A. “Dick” Shaffer, 78, of Iowa City, died of cancer May 5, 2013, in Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center, Coralville. He was born Oct. 28, 1934, in Warsaw, to George and Dortha Phillips Shaffer. On April 7, 1963, in Iowa City, he married Marcia D. Van Dyke, who survives. Following graduation from Warsaw High School in 1953, he enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy. In 1961 he graduated from Elkhart University as a medical laboratory technician. He began a long career as a research assistant in pharmacology at the University of Iowa. He became an innovative surgeon, miniaturizing a Doppler flow probe and traveling to Russia to share his surgical techniques. He served as a Scoutmaster for many years for Coralville’s Troop 207. He was active in his church and was involved in the Stephens Ministries. Also surviving are two sons, Greg (and spouse Michelle), Iowa City, and Brad (and spouse Shelly), Celebration, Fla.; three grandsons; a great-granddaughter; three sisters, Barbara (and spouse Lavon) Harman and Sue Gunter, all of Warsaw, and Carol (and spouse Jack) Clark, Syracuse. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Iowa City. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to Hospice of Iowa City. Condolences may be sent via www.gayandciha.com
