Kathryn “Kate” Marguerite Babcock Shaffer passed away at home in Burlington on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 after a long series of health issues, a few weeks shy of her 74th birthday. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 41 years, John “Jack” Shaffer of Burlington and Chicago.
Kate is also survived by her three stepdaughters, Laura Christensen (Mark) of Wheaton, Illinois, Lisa Binkley (Ed) of Madison, and Sharon Ogden (Eric) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; as well as seven grandchildren, Lindsay (Brian Light), Ryan and Courtney Christensen; Megan and Adrian Binkley; and Jacqueline and Colin Ogden.
Kate was preceded in death by her parents Patricia Jones Babcock and Norman Babcock and her sister Carol Mitchell.
Kate was born on Jan. 13, 1950, and she grew up in Miller Beach, Indiana. At 18 she attended secretarial school in Chicago. She worked as a secretary for a railroad company and then a law firm, where she was recognized for her intellect and work ethic and was trained on the job as a paralegal. She attended night school to earn her undergraduate degree in history from Northwestern University while working full-time, and she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. After marrying Jack in 1982, she attended Kent Law School, and ultimately received her JD in Law. Kate practiced law at several prominent Chicago firms before retiring early to help manage the building of their beautiful log ‘lodge’ home on several hundred acres in southeastern Wisconsin.
Their home in the country has been a wonderful gathering place for the whole extended family, friends, and all of the many family dogs for 27 years. Kate was an excellent cook and hostess and threw wonderful celebrations and gatherings for Thanksgivings, Christmases, Memorial Day weekends, July 4ths, and grandkids’ sleepover birthday parties. She often joked that she hoped she would go to “stepmother heaven.”
Kate and Jack travelled extensively and shared a great love and knowledge of history. For many years they owned a beautiful sailboat, Dragon Lady, on which they explored the Caribbean and Great Lakes with many friends and family. The couple made it to all of the continents except Antarctica, which they missed due to poor weather for crossing; but they settled for walking on Cape Horn! Their most memorable trip was an Around-the-World tour with National Geographic.
Kate served on the Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees since 2006. During her tenure, she served as a Vice Chair of the Board and a member of various Board Committees, and she was a member of the Women’s Board. Kate chaired the 2006 Whirl gala, one of the highest-grossing galas in the Zoo’s history. Additionally, Kate co-chaired two Conservation Leadership Awards Dinners, in 2009 and 2010.
Kate and Jack supported the Zoo for almost 25 years and were instrumental in the success of the several major fundraising campaigns. The Zoo and its animals from all corners of the world were Kate’s passion. Jack and Kate are recognized on The Great Bear Wilderness habitat for helping to fund this major project.
She was also very active on the Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and their fundraising efforts, and she did volunteer work for the Joffrey Ballet.
Jack and the family extend their deepest heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team of caregivers who made it possible for Kate to live out her last months in the beauty and comfort of the home she and Jack built. A rare bone disorder left Kate very vulnerable to bone breaks. But Kate had a wonderful sense of humor throughout her life, and she always said that the last bone she would break would be her funny bone.
A private celebration of life will be held after the holidays. Memorial gifts may be made to The Chicago Zoological Society to continue their great work (www.czs.org/Donate).
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home is serving the family. Well-wishers may visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
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