Karl F. Schaeffer

Karl F. Schaeffer passed away peacefully at home on August 26, 2017.  He was born October 26, 1930 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of the late Cecilia G. and Karl W. Schaeffer.  Karl attended St. Barbara’s Parochial School, Class of 1944.  He was an altar boy from age 9 thru his educational years and military service; St. Thomas More High School, class of 1948. Served with the U.S. Army and took basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC.  Was assigned to Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD and was trained for two ordnance programs and cleared for secret.  Received orders to report to Ft. Lewis, WA and then embarked for Korea on the Marine Phoenix from the Port of Seattle.  Served in the 226th Ordnance Base Depot in Pusan and then was transferred north to the 24th Infantry Division for 9 months.  Returned home safely on the USS William Mitchell thru Ft. Lawton, WA (Seattle) and was discharged at Ft. Sheridan, IL.

Graduated from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Class of 1954 with a B.S. in Business Administration.  Karl played four years of Varsity basketball, was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and an active alumni member all his life.

Karl married Teresa Schmids on February 16, 1957 in Philadelphia, PA.  She was the daughter of Alfonso and Helen (Vanyo) Schmids.  Teresa was born November 2, 1930 in Philadelphia and died December 30, 1983 in Massillon, OH and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lebanon, PA.  They were blessed with six wonderful children.

He later married Rosemary (Dulaney) Morris, daughter of Archie and Rose Dulaney (both deceased), on May 11, 1985 in Tallmadge, OH.  Karl retired from Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. in Akron, OH on September 1, 1991 with 33 years service in Sales,  Merchandising and Management.  He also had the distinction of working in the Seiberling and Dayton Division of Firestone.  From 1967 to 1989 he attended 23 consecutive “National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) Annual Conventions.  Rosemary and Karl combined had 75 years service with Firestone.

Karl is survived by his loving wife Rosemary; six loving children, Rosemarie McIntyre of Yaphank, NY; Barbara DeLaat (Richard) of Medina, OH; William Schaeffer of Mechanicsville, VA; Kathleen Knight of Lexington, KY; James Schaeffer (Kelly) of Cypress, TX;  and Mary Passaris of Glen Allen, VA.; 14 grandchildren, Teresa and James McIntyre; Corey Cavanaugh (Brittany) and Andrew DeLaat; Tyler, Sean and Alex Schaeffer; Austin and Daniel Knight; Allison, Meghan and Madison Schaeffer, Michael and Nikolas Passaris; one great granddaughter, Lily Rose Gollogly. Also survived by sister-in-law, Sr. Marie Schmids, Philadelphia, PA; brother-in-law, William Schmids (Jean), Horsham, PA; William Bradley, Somers, NJ; Aunt, Lucy Schaeffer, Lexington, NC; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

Karl was very active in many organizations over the years, particularly since his retirement; naming some: V.P. Drexel Alumni Varsity Club (1958-1960); Past Director of Pottstown, PA Jaycees (1960-1962); Eucharistic Minister in the Cleveland and Youngstown Diocese since 1976; very active in the Enders Family Association and Reunions in Enders, PA since 1984; Enders Tri-Historian (1993-1995); co-authored with Cousin Russ Ottens of Tifton, GA a book on the 100+ “Civil War Veterans in the Enders Family; produced a book on the Bleistein Family (1815-1988) with Rosemary; started and chaired with Rosemary the “Bleistein Family Reunion”, Lebanon,  PA (1986-1997); member of the Summit County Ohio Historical Society; Firestone Retirees Monthly Meeting; AARP Chapter #4196, Jackson Township, OH; and, Cuyahoga Valley Civil War Round Table, Peninsula, OH.

Military Organizations: Life member of American Legion Post 221, Massillon, OH; Legionnaire of the Year Award (1994); Executive Committee member (1996-1999);   Chairman or Co-Chairman of three major projects (1993-1997) - Renamed the old Lincoln Way Viaduct (495 feet),  “The Four Chaplains Memorial Viaduct.” (a nine month project); co-founded, co-chairman, co-curator with Legionnaire “Brother” and Post Historian, John Tsocheff, our “Post Memorial Museum and Library (1994) and chaired “Our Beacon of Light” outdoor lighting project (1997); 40/8 Voiture No. 10, Stark County, OH; Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 9795, Canal Fulton, OH; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War McClellan Camp No. 91, Alliance, OH (Commander 1995-1996), Dept. of Ohio Camp Organizer, and National HQ Staffing Committee member; The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), founded April 15, 1865 Commandery of Ohio - Commander (1997-1999); 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Reserve (Third Military District); John Hunt Morgan Camp No. 1342; The.  Sons of Confederate Veterans, Louisville, KY; Military Order of the Stars and Bars; George W. Johnson Chapter 118, Louisville,KY Society; Sons of the American Revolution, Harris Ferry Chapter, Harrisburg, PA.

Karl was an active bowler in the McNeil League (1967-1979) , Merry Mixers (Mixed League 1968-1979), and was President nine years; a member of the Firestone Country Club (1969-1979); played softball in the Akron City League for Seiberling (1968-1972); was player and player/manager in the Akron Silver Softball League (1992-1997) and was on league championship teams in 1994 and 1996, and with much pride wore Lou Gehrig’s Number 4.  Also very active in the “Drexel University Sport Fans of the 50's” Reunion since 1990 for male and female athletes during the late 1940's and 1950's.

Karl was an avid historian, genealogist and a collector of memorabilia; namely, Enders Family, Civil War, Firestone, Baseball and John Wayne artifacts.

In memory of Karl, cherish the people you love, extend your hand in friendship, embrace a child, listen with sincere religious compassion and remember His love, concern and kindness.  It has been said by some, that he never met anyone he didn’t like.  Karl’s legacy is his dear and loving family, wonderful friends, his Catholic faith, his family military heritage back to the 1750's and “Duty, Honor, Country” with much pride in our “America the Beatiful”.  Of the many dedications, lectures and teaching Civil War history at schools and other military functions, Karl’s proudest moments were laying wreaths at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on February 12 and at the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, IL on April 15 in full military uniform.  “LEST WE FORGET”!

Karl has been a member of SS. Philip & James Catholic Church in Canal Fulton, OH since l980. 

Calling hours will be 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 1, 2017 at the Donovan Bagnoli Funeral Home, 339 Southwest Ave., Tallmadge, where a military service will be conducted.   

A mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2017 at SS. Philip & James Church 412 High St. NE, Canal Fulton, OH with Father Kevin McCaffrey officiating.

Karl’s body will be transported to Lebanon, PA. Calling hours will be 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Thompson’s Funeral Home, 126 South 9th Street, Lebanon.

Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery with full military honors at the grave site where he will be laid to rest beside his loving first wife.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to SS. Philip & James Church, 412 High Street, Canal Fulton, OH 44614.     

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