Remembering Jack
Jack Shaffer’s life was epitomized by the basics: live life, be responsible, do your best and be good to people.
Known as the local milkman in Gas City, Jack was one of the oldest living veterans in Indiana at 106 years old until his passing in February 2026.
Jack was born in 1919. During his lifetime, Jack saw the urban adoption of electricity. In 1919, U.S. troops were returning home from World War I.
Jack served in the Army from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. During his service, Jack traveled seven days to serve in France and Germany. Jack was honorably discharged in 1946.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, less than 0.5% of the 16.4 million Americans who served during World War II are still alive. Many living World War II veterans are more than 100 years old. In 2025, 873 World War II veterans were living in Indiana.
Jack was the very first veteran to come to Bethel Pointe Health & Rehab after the facility garnered its VA contract. McKensie Sorrell, director of admissions at Bethel Pointe Health & Rehab, said the long-term care facility, nursing home and senior rehabilitation center is the only VA-certified facility in Delaware County.
“It is a true honor to care not only for Jack, but for all of our veterans,” Sorrell says. “Each of them fought for our country and our freedom. We are so blessed to be able to give them our all in return.”
Sorrell described Jack as very active with a sharp mind.
“Jack surprised us all because he didn’t appear to be the age he really was when he was admitted,” Sorrell says.
Dina Bowling, Jack’s granddaughter, said her grandfather’s life was filled with sweet, happy simplicities.
“One thing I always heard other people say was, ‘Everybody liked Jack Shaffer,’” Dina says. “Because he was the milkman, so everyone knew Jack Shaffer. He did not have one enemy out there. He was just a nice, happy guy.”
Jack enjoyed golfing, bowling, picking black walnuts, feeding birds, vegetable gardening, traveling to Florida in the winter and making homemade strawberry jam.
“We all fought over his freezer jelly,” Jack’s son, Roger Shaffer, says.
When asked about his secret to longevity, Jack and his family agreed — ice cream and doughnuts.
“He lived off of sugar,” his granddaughter, Dina, says. “He was healthy and active.”
His son, Roger, said his father would eat Concannon’s Bakery, Cafe & Coffee Bar doughnuts every day while at Bethel Pointe Health & Rehab in Muncie.
According to his family and friends, Jack was technologically savvy, always stayed up to date with current events and had an uncanny ability to recall accurate dates and memories.
“He was always Jack Shaffer,” Dina says. “Up until the last day, he was 100 percent mentally there. This man did not forget anything.”[Text Wrapping Break]
Jack’s longtime neighbor, Freddie Swafford, said Jack had a mind like a steel trap. Jack’s neighbor and VA nurse, Capri Dakin, said Jack was the sharpest person she’s ever known.
An MVP for the Gas City Tigers basketball team, Jack graduated from Gas City High School in 1937. In 1938, Jack married his wife of 78 years, Betty. The family said the couple borrowed a quarter to see a movie for their first date.
During his early career, Jack worked at his family’s dairy farm, Shaffer’s Walnut Creek Dairy in Gas City, and Sutters Dairy in Marion. Jack retired as a salesman at Twin City Chevrolet in 1982.
“Everyone knew him in Gas City for the dairy, so everyone always went to Dad for deals on cars,” his son, Roger, says.
In 2024, Dan Ridenour attended Jack’s 105th birthday celebration.
His daughter-in-law, Judy Shaffer, said Jack was kindhearted and never harsh.
“He says what he thinks, but he’s never cruel,” Judy says.
Jack was a member of the Gas City Masonic Lodge 645 and VFW 6728. Jack had two sons, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
