Walter A. Schaefer
Walter A. Schaefer, 91, Fond du Lac, passed away Saturday, December 1, 2018. He was born April 14,1927, in Dotyville to Rose and Casper Schaefer. He attended grade school in Dotyville where he met his wife, Mary Jane Fasbender, they were married on September 11, 1948. After marriage, they resided in Milwaukee, Itasca, IL, Appleton, and Fond du Lac. Wally was an accomplished business person who parlayed his welder training into West End Weld in 1963, specializing in rubbish containers, and subsequent sale of that business to Waste Management. He was instrumental in helping Waste Management become the US’ largest commercial waste hauling and recycling business, evaluating new technologies and setting up new operations globally. Upon retiring from Waste Management, he continued to consult with the company for many years – as they used to say, nobody knew the business better!
Wally was proud of his service as a Merchant Marine during WWII, spending most of his time in the Pacific Theater, and his service as an Army Corporal during the Korean War.
In retirement, Wally went back to the farm – literally! Schaefer Farms is now nearly a 400-acre operation, complete with a storage, garage, and office complex, that is leased by local farmers, Dave and Dan Bertram. Most days, Wally could be found at the farm complex, working in the office, or if needed, driving a tractor himself! Wally will be remembered as a straight-shooter, well-read both in current events and his beloved western novels, always ready to shoot the breeze over a can of peanuts and a cold Budweiser. He is survived by his only child, Teri Schaefer Shaughnessy and son-in-law, Michael Shaughnessy, of Arlington Heights, IL and Linden Beach, and grandsons, McDonough “Mack”, and Schaefer Shaughnessy, of Chicago, IL, siblings Marion (Don) Payant, Bernard Schaefer, Donald (Kathy) Schaefer, Gerald (Vickey) Schaefer, Harold Schaefer, sisters-in-law Connie Keys, and brother-in-law Marv Grahl. He would like us to remember the tremendous community of support and friends he built since returning to the Fond du Lac area.
He lost the love of his life and fishing partner of 54, Mary J. Schaefer years in April 2003. His parents, Rose and Casper, brothers, Jerome and Herbert, and sisters, Alice Krebsbach, LaVerne Braun, Florence Grahl, sisters-in-law, Lois Schaefer, Joan Schaefer, Irene Schaefer and Thelma Schaefer, brothers-in-law Ruben Krebsbach and Alphonse Braun preceded Walter in death. Visitation for Walter A. Schaefer will be on Saturday, December 8, 2018 from 1 to 3 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, immediately followed by Liturgy of The Word at 3:00 PM. Cremation will follow.
The family requests that memorial donations in Wally’s honor be directed to Malone Area Heritage Museum, PO Box 22, Malone, WI 53049
Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com