Norman Ronald Schafer, 89, of Tekonsha, passed away at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall Sunday, August 23, 2020.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Norman will take place at 1:00 PM Thursday, August 27, 2020 at the First Baptist Church of Tekonsha 914 N. Main St. Tekonsha, MI 49092. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM also at the Church.
Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha.
The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.
Norman was born on May 9, 1931, to Ronald and Mildred (Doolittle) Schafer. He was a lifelong resident of Tekonsha and graduated in 1948 from Tekonsha High School. He played numerous sports while in high school.
As a 15 year old teenager, he helped drive a milk route hauling milk cans with his father Ronald, after school and on the weekends and later after graduation. In 1954 after returning from the service, Ronald and Norman purchased a milk route, then known as Schafer & Son Milk Hauling. In 1959 they sold the milk route, and throughout those years they also farmed full time and milked their own cows on the farm.
On Dec. 28, 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and entered service on Jan. 2, 1951. After training in the states, he was stationed in Germany on the bombing range where he remained for 37 months (1951-54).
In 1960 Norman married the love of his life, Ardith (Knowles) Schafer and they enjoyed 57 wonderful years together until her passing in 2018. Together they raised 3 children; Cindy, DeAnn and Randy. The couple farmed all their life, retiring in 2007 at which point they enjoyed maintaining and caring for the Schafer Family’s Sesquicentennial Farm.
During his life, Norman also served on the Tekonsha School Board for 8 years, with 4 of those years as president. He served 20 years on The Board of Review and served on the Tekonsha Zoning Board. He also was honored as Grand Marshal along side his son Randy in the Tekonsha Memorial Day Parade.
He was a member of the Marshall Moose, Farmer’s Union, Double Jack Pedro Club, The Tekonsha Historical Society and The Union Church of Tekonsha.
He loved spending time with family and community especially conversation over a good up of coffee. He and Ardith spent many enjoyable years at Tri-Lake Trails Campground and he was an avid card player who loved a good-hearted game of Euchre. He enjoyed watching sports and attending his family’s sporting events.
He is survived by his three children: Cindy (Bob) Arnold of Tekonsha; DeAnn Devenney of Elkhart, IN; Randy Schafer of Tekonsha. Grandsons: Nick (Kelli) Arnold of Sodus; MI; Jarred Devenney of Indianapolis, IN; Derek Arnold of Tekonsha; Parker Devenney of Chicago, IL and great-grandson Kingston Devenney of Indianapolis, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ardith and sister Merlyn (Schafer) Hunsicker.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Norman’s honor, may do so to The Tekonsha Historical Society or The Tekonsha Athletic Department.
Please visit
www.lighthousefuneral.com
to share memories, pictures and videos with the family.
The ceremony will be streamed live on the Lighthouse’s Facebook page. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view the video
