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David Schafer Obituary
On January 9, 2025 Dave passed away at the Lacombe Hospital at the age of 94 years and 8 months. His goal of living to 100 was not to be.
Dave is survived by his wife Shirley and children Wayne (Pamela), Ron (Karen), Candi (Eric) and Colleen (Darwin); and grandchildren Brenden (Chloe), Jaden, Landon (Chelsey) and Darnell (Jaden Hemeyer). He is also survived by his siblings, Ruth Kenzler, Bob Schafer, Leon Schafer, and Carrol Smith; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.
Dave was the 6th oldest of 14 children born to Emilie and Samuel Schafer on a farm just west of Edmonton. Life was tough on the farm and it got tougher when Samuel died when Dave was 14 years of age and Emilie was pregnant with the youngest child. Dave and his brother Fred quit school and took over the family farm and through hard work, the family survived and prospered.
Throughout his life Dave was never afraid of hard work. His careers included farming and working in the lumber industry, but his real love was working on airplanes both at Northwest Industries and then at Wardair, Canadian Airlines and Air Canada. While primarily based at the Edmonton International Airport, his ability to manipulate sheet metal for use on various parts of the airplane was well known and his skills took him to jobs in the Northwest Territories, Toronto and Vancouver. After retiring he worked part-time at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin where he helped repair vintage aircraft.
Dave was also an avid traveler and enjoyed exploring many countries including Africa, Australia, New Zealand and many parts of South America. He participated in two archeological digs in Jordan and visited many parts of the Middle East as part of those adventures. He volunteered to do humanitarian work in Belize and Rwanda where his handyman skills made a real difference to an orphanage and medical facility.
Dave took up skiing at age 65 and enjoyed many ski trips to the mountains with his friend, Wilf Hansen and family members till he was in his 80’s.
Being so handy with his hands and looking for a project to keep himself busy after retirement, he located two old grain wagons, from the horse drawn wagon era, and totally restored one wagon replicating the one he remembered he and his father used on the farm as a child. He then hired a team of Clydesdales to pull his grain wagon through the neighborhood in which he lived. He also built small grain elevator replicas, lake cottage replicas and bird houses. He was part owner, with his children, of two lake side cottages and helped build up both places for friends and family to relax and enjoy. No challenge was too great for him and his handiworks and creations will be passed down to generations.
Dave was also an avid gardener and often received compliments from those walking along College Avenue, at the beautiful gardens he planted and maintained every year. Extra vegetables were always available for friends, family and those in need.
Dave was not only generous with his time, energy and fruits of his labor but he was also very supportive of many charities, and other endeavors in his community and church. His generous financial and time gifts to A Better World-Canada made a difference in many parts of the world. His particularly generous gift to Mamawi Atosketan Native School, in Maskwacis, funded the Schafer Family Memorial Fund which assists aboriginal students who wish to pursue advanced education by way of scholarhips. He also financially supported the Emilie Schafer Family Scholarship Fund at Burman University set up over 30 years ago to help needy students.
Donations in Dave’s memory will be gratefully accepted for A Better World-Canada or for the Schafer Family Memorial Fund in care of the Alberta Conference. Addresses are below.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the College Heights SDA Church in Lacombe on Saturday the 28th of June at 3:30 pm. A reception will follow at Casey’s Cabin on the Campus of Burman University.
A Better World Canada 301-5033 52nd St. Lacombe, AB T4L 2A6
Alberta Conference of SDA 5816AB-2A Lacombe, AB T4L 2G5
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May 30 1930 January 9 2025 94 Years Old
Death notice for the town of: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta
death notice David William Schafer May 30 1930 January 9 2025 94 Years Old
obituaries notice David William Schafer May 30 1930 January 9 2025 94 Years Old
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of David William Schafer May 30 1930 January 9 2025 94 Years Old and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
