James Howard Shaeffer

It is with heavy hearts that our family says goodbye to our beloved patriarch Dr. James Howard “Doc” Shaeffer. Surrounded by his loved ones, Doc passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at the age of 94.

Doc was born in Canova, SD on June 16th, 1930, grew up in Parker and graduated from Parker High School in 1948. He attended the University of Notre Dame and then graduated from Marquette Medical School in 1955. Following medical school, he completed his internship and General Practice residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA, where he met and married Glenda Winston. They started their family while he served for two years as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Texas and Alaska and, after fulfilling his military obligations, moved to Sioux Falls. There, he and Glenda continued growing their family. He started work as a general practice physician, eventually opening Eastview Medical Clinic where he served his community (evening house calls included!) for five decades. 

Doc brought caring and kindness to all his endeavors. He expanded his practice by opening the Montrose Medical Clinic - a way for him to serve a more rural community. His servant’s heart also led him to work with the underserved for decades - through the South Dakota Urban Indian Health, the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls (his “Pen Pals”), and various locum tenens throughout the Midwest. 

As impressive as his legacy of caring for people is, his dedication to conservation of wildlife and the land has also left a lasting impact. His love of the outdoors and its wildlife was instilled in him by his father, Dr. James Henry Shaeffer, who was President of the National Wildlife Federation from 1970 - 1972.

Doc served for years as President of the Minnehaha Sportsman’s Club, which helped conserve and create wildlife habitat. The hundreds of bird houses he made line the roads and stand as a lasting remembrance of his love for nature. Over the years he cultivated his land ensuring birds aplenty for the countless hunters he welcomed to his lake cabin (the “Spider House”), providing a roof over his friends’ heads and food for their bellies.

For many years Doc personally hosted the Sportsman’s Club’s annual children’s fishing derby at Lake Alvin. He was an active member of Pheasants Forever, the Isaac Walton League, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, and was an original member owner of Westward Ho Country Club.

His vision for a rural South Dakota life, beautifully written in his college essay entitled “I Favor Living on a Farm”, came true when he built a home overlooking a lake. He loved everything about it - hunting pheasants, ducks and doves, keeping the wild turkeys and birds well-fed, planting trees and tending the land. His favorite pastime was sitting in his wooden rocker looking out his picture window over the land and lake he held close to his heart. 

Doc was a gifted woodworker who carved bird decoys and created toys out of blocks of wood and built heirloom furniture for those he loved. He was a voracious reader, enjoyed listening to music and playing his trumpet. 

His Catholic faith was foundational to his life. He was a member of St. Mary Church in Sioux Falls and St. Patrick’s in Montrose in his later years. 

To know Doc was to love him. He carried with him a calm and gentle presence and was considerate and kind to everyone he met. He had a droll sense of humor full of witty one-liners and an unforgettable laugh. Doc was a gifted storyteller and letter writer who believed every day was a gift. He loved coaching and watching youth sports and - of course - his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish (GO IRISH!). 

James H. Shaeffer was preceded in death by his parents Maylou (Riedesel) Shaeffer and Doctor James Henry Shaeffer of Parker, SD, and his sister Virginia JoAnn (Jo) Folgelman (Lyle).

Grateful for having shared his life are his brother John Shaeffer (Cheryl), longtime loving companion Carole Welsh, his former wife Glenda (Winston) Shaeffer, nine children: James Shaeffer (Vonda; James, Eric and Emily), Amy Hofer (Carey; Laurel), Mary Smith (Scott; Schuyler, Stephon and Shaeffer), Anne Shaeffer (Joseph Wahl; Alex and Jordan), Lisa Olaker (Rick; Abby, Nate, Haley and Bridget), Kate Cuenoud (Lily, Annabelle and Remy), Joseph Shaeffer, Jenny Schultz (Kevin; Beckett and Bowen), Elizabeth Shaeffer (Jason Musick). Doc’s legacy lives on in his children, 18 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

He will be missed by all who knew him and whose lives he touched. 

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Doc’s friends and at-home caregivers, Kathy and Norma, for the devotion they showed him these last 18 months, and the staff at Prince of Peace for the exceptional kind and loving care they provided during the final weeks of his long life.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Montrose, SD, with visitation an hour prior to the service and a luncheon following. 

The family will host an open house reception from 12-3 p.m. on Sunday, January 26th at the Country Club of Sioux Falls. Please stop by to say hello and pay your respects to their dear ol’ Dad. 

Memorial contributions can be sent to: Minnehaha County Pheasants Forever  PO Box 91204,  Sioux Falls, SD 57109                                           Memo: Doc Shaeffer Memorial Fund

Cards can be sent to:  Shaeffer Family   ℅ Amy Hofer   5157 S Manchester Court,   Sioux Falls, SD 57108