Ronald L. Schafer
Ronald Lee Schafer, 67, of Fond du Lac, passed away on Friday, April 2, 2021 at St. Agnes Hospital unexpectedly from an aortic aneurysm. He was born August 1, 1953 to the late Edward and Gertrude (Thurwanger) Schafer Jr. in Rock Island, IL.
A son of a small business man, who owned and operated Schafer’s Movers Co. in Rock Island IL. Dad learned how to work hard. He helped his dad, grandpa, uncles and cousins, pack and move folks. That hard work transformed him into an astounding high school wrestler, or ‘grappler’ as Dad would say.
In 1973 he moved to Fond du Lac for schooling at Moraine Park. While ‘cruising the gut’ (Mainstreet), a pretty lady, Mary Jo Clohesy, caught his eye and soon after a romance began. On May 23rd 1975 dad and mom got married. I’ve always admired my Mom and Dad’s strong, passionate and unconditional love for each other. They always treated each other with kindness.
Dad was one of the most Intelligent people I have known. After 19 years of work at Leach Company in Oshkosh, as an Industrial Engineer (1978A funeral se-1997), he could rattle off fractional decimal equivalents, strengths, and tolerances of metals, and was a very mechanically minded man. In 1997 he joined my Mom in her family business of Joe’s Fox Hut Inc. and helped her run it with my brother and I. He was a fabulous bartender with a quick wit, a terrific pizza maker, and master of making things ‘copacetic’ in adversarial instances. To know our Dad was to love him. If you ever met or knew him, you knew his great sense of humor and welcoming and friendly smile. He lived generously, always willing and able to help. He was a man of morals, integrity and wisdom available for council. Dad was a selfless man, always concerned about others, making sure they were well off and taken care of. His personal needs were few.
Dad enjoyed a few yearly trips to the casino, and was looking forward to rolling the dice on the craps-table and pulling the levers on those ‘one armed Bandits!’ Trips to the casino will be greatly missed. Since the Covid pandemic, he pretty much stayed home. We wish he had received a more proper retirement. Dad and Mom did occupy their time with many games of double solitaire. They prepared great home-cooked meals, as he performed sous-chef duties. Dad enjoyed seeing his grandkids play little league baseball and reeling in fish. He really enjoyed the Green Bay Packers. He loved his time with his Grand-doggies, Jett and the Bud-dog (deceased) whom he is in the company of now in heaven.
Ron is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Jo; two sons, Michael (Lacey) and Nicholas (Pamela); two grandsons, Elias and Liam; grandog, Jett; two sisters, Mary Lynne Wallace and Carol (William) Black; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by an infant child; his parents; infant brother; brother-in-law, Richard Wallace and other relatives.
Services: Ron’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, April 8, 2021 for visitation from 3:00 to 5:45 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac. A Funeral Service will be held at 6:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery on Friday, April 9 at 1:30 PM. Mask will be required and social distancing maintained.
In lieu flowers, memorials may be directed to the Fond du Lac Humane Society.
Online condolences may be shared at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com