David Harold Schaefer died peacefully in his sleep on July 10, 2023, with his children at his side.
David, the third son of William Schaefer and his wife Irene (Hoffman), was born on July 12, 1928, and was raised on his parent’s farm in Winlock, Washington. He attended all 12 years of his education in the Winlock School District and graduated from high school in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he began working with his uncle, Richard Schaefer, at a Weyerhaeuser camp near Toutle River, Washington.
In 1950, he was drafted into the Army, attending basic training at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, and additional training at the Yakima, Washington, firing range. David was shipped out to Austria, via Germany, and served with the Army’s 11th Battalion Artillery Division. In 1952, he returned to Fort Lewis where he was honorably discharged and began his five-year commitment with the Army National Guard.
Shortly after his return to civilian life, he met, courted and married Rosalie Lambert in January 1954. Later that year, David and Rosalie purchased the farm he was raised on and started their family.
In the mid 1950s, he started his career at Lewis County PUD as a meter reader, working for them for over 30 years and retiring in 1985. David was a unique individual in that he had been retired longer than he actually worked for the PUD. During that same time, he raised dairy cows and provided fresh milk to the Darigold plant in Chehalis, Washington, for many years. In early 1965, their family was complete as they welcomed their ninth child.
David enjoyed bowling. He and his wife were active in local bowling leagues for many years and he continued to bowl even into his 90s. He was also passionate about the outdoors, raising not only his dairy cows, but prized Hereford bulls. He also loved to go hunting, and in knowing all the roads within the Weyerhaeuser lands around Mount St. Helens, he was very successful and it was a rare season in that he didn’t fill his tags.
David made the involvement in the grange a family affair. He was an 82-year member of St. Urban and then Logan Hill granges, and throughout his life served on the junior, subordinate, pomona and state levels. David and Rosalie traveled all over Washington state to attend conventions, and as their children grew older, they attended as well. The Schaefer family was recognized as the Grange Family of the Year in 2008. David was also honored at the 133rd Annual State Grange Convention with the Individual Grange Leadership Award in June of 2022, where he also received a Quilt of Valor for his service to our country so many years ago.
David was very involved in the local community. He was an elected member of the Winlock School Board and was instrumental in the construction of the new junior and high school complex in the late 1960s. He was also a longtime member of the IBEW, was active in the Southwest Washington Fair, helped with the local FFA chapter and coached at the Little League and Babe Ruth levels in baseball leagues that his own boys participated in. David and Rosalie were also avid supporters of the Mayfield Lake Youth Camp, near Mossyrock, Washington, where Mayfield Lake Junior Grange camp has been held since 1965. He was forever a passionate pinochle player and enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors, and in his later years added folks at the Winlock Community Center and at the Hope Grange Hall.
David’s children surrounded him with love, support and comfort in his final years, and he passed away peacefully at home, where he truly wanted to be; in his own home, on his own farm and on his own terms. He is preceded in death by his father, William, his mother, Irene, his brothers, Elmer and Philip, and his wife, Rosalie.
He is survived by his children, Ronald Schaefer, of Tacoma; Washington, Karen Jackson, of Sumner, Washington, John Schaefer (Ann), of Winlock, Washington, Karl Schaefer (fiancé LeAnn), of Chehalis, Washington, Jerome Schaefer (Terry), of Auburn, Washington; Denise McCartan (Sean), of Tumwater, Washington, Donald Schaefer, of Vancouver, Washington, Michael Schaefer (Kelly), of Paola, Kansas, and Paul Schaefer (Sandra), of San Bernardino, California. He is also survived by 19 wonderful grandchildren and 20 extraordinary great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express our sincere thanks to Assured Health Hospice, Catholic Community Services and Sunset Guardians for their care and support of our father.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Washington State Junior Grange Camping Program or to the Catholic Community Services organization, in David’s name.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. July 22 at Winlock High School. Refreshments to follow.
