Getting to Know Joe Shafer

Joe Shafer: Building Community Through Sports, Service, and Small Business

Born and raised in Granger, Utah, Joseph Richard Shafer grew up in a family deeply rooted in the community. The son of Clifford A. Shafer, Joe attended Granite High School before spending a decade as a painter at the Utah Copper Company. Seeking a more active life, he joined the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, serving for seven years before embarking on a new chapter as a local business owner.

In 1938, Joe married Norma Petersen, a fellow Granger native and graduate of Cyprus High School. Together, they raised six children—Richard, Linda, Diane, Fern, Norman Joe, and baby Mary—balancing family life with community service and entrepreneurial spirit.

Joe’s store, Joe’s Sporting and Clothing (which began as a small restaurant), became more than a place to shop—it became a gathering spot. Expanding over the years into a full variety store, it reflected Joe and Norma’s commitment to serving their neighbors.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Joe founded the Pony League in 1955, giving boys aged 12–15 a place to play after graduating from Little League. As president for three years, he wore many hats—coach, umpire, statistics keeper, and even park superintendent. He also coached the Granger Third Ward M Men Basketball Team and made sure older players had opportunities in the Salt Lake Amateur League.

Joe’s leadership extended beyond sports. He served as president of the Granger Lions Club (1956–1957) and chaired the Granger Community Park committee, always looking for ways to improve the town he loved.

Those who knew the Shafers remember them not just for their work, but for their warmth. One store employee once summed it up simply: “Each and every one in the Shafer family is a joy to know.”

In every role—husband, father, business owner, coach, and civic leader—Joe Shafer lived out a deep belief that a strong community is built one act of service at a time.