Allen W. "Sly" Shafer

Allen Wayne “Sly” Shafer, 62, of Blue Grass, Iowa, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. Born August 17, 1962, in Burlington, IA, Allen was the son of Connie (Honts) and Edward Wickman. He lived a life defined by strength, loyalty, and love.

A proud Iowa native, Al was known for his quick wit, generous heart, and strong work ethic. He could fix just about anything and was always ready to lend a hand. Of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of being a father and “Papa,” and he deeply cherished his children and grandchildren.

Al attended Davenport public schools and graduated from West High School in 1981. He married Trudina Brundies in 1983, and later Pauline Fischer in 2020. He spent his career as a proud union pipefitter and retired from MidAmerican Energy after 30 years of service, during which he mentored countless apprentices.

A lifelong “West Ender,” Al was a familiar face at many West Davenport establishments. He was a longtime member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and proudly served his community at the annual Lenten Fish Frys. He was also a member of ABATE District 15, enjoying his Harley-Davidson motorcycles and, later, his Slingshot. He was a die-hard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Al is survived by his wife, Pauline, of Blue Grass; his children, Jessica (Ben) Houk of Davenport, Zack Shafer of Morley, IA, Samantha (Charles) Winter of Destin, FL; his beloved grandchildren: Savannah, Calvin, Josie, Hayden, Owen, Sawyer, Jack, Noah, and Olivia; and many loving extended family members. He also leaves behind his cherished dogs, Buster and Frank.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Angela Sutherland and John Shafer; and grandchildren, Hannah Faith and Landon Allen Houk.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 4pm on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. The family will receive friends from 1pm until time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church or Kings Harvest Pet Shelter.

“In Heaven there is no beer; that’s why we drink it here.”

Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.