John Schafer, 80, died on Monday, July 28, 2008 at his home in near Red Lake Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 PM, Friday, August 1, 2008 at St. Josephs Church, Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Larry Wiesler officiating and Father Chuck Huck Co-celebrant. Burial will be at St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake Falls.

Visitation will be 5 " 8 PM, Thursday, July 31, 2008 at St. Josephs Church, Red Lake Falls, with a 7 PM prayer service and for one hour prior to service at the church, Friday.

John Virgil Schafer was born November 19, 1927 at Red Lake Falls, MN, the son of George and Rose (Kuld) Schafer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls. He attended country school, Lafayette High School, Red Lake Falls, attended and graduated from Northwest School of Agriculture, Crookston, MN.

On August 7, 1950, John was united in marriage to Mary Anne Schindler at St. Marys Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, MN. He farmed the family farm all of his life and was a lifetime mechanic also.

John was a member of St. Mary and St. Josephs parishes and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Farmers Union Board and Office, a member of Red Lake Falls Flying Club and a member of Marriage Encounter. John loved dancing, clock making as well as repairing them, hunting, fishing, flying, building and repairing machinery.

He is survived by wife, Mary Anne, Red Lake Falls; 8 children, Steven (William Lindsey) Schafer, Little Rock, AR, William (Margaret) Schafer, Strathcona, MN, David (Kathryn) Schafer, Strathcona, MN, Louis (Bruce Reeves) Schafer, Red Lake Falls, MN, Marjorie (Michael) LaCoursiere, Red Lake Falls, MN, Laura (Jamie) DeRosier, Red Lake Falls, MN, Joseph Schafer, Little Rock, AR and Glenn (Linda Shoemaker) Schafer, St. Paul, MN; 19 grandchildren, Benjamin and Peter Schafer, Anna, Timothy, Mary Margaret and Katerina Schafer, Saul, Ivan, Leonard, May, Emmett, Eli, John and Pearl LaCoursiere, Clara, Forrest, Audrey, David and Ruth DeRosier; 2 sisters, Lucille Schafer, Thief River Falls, MN and Sister Yvonne (Doris) Schafer, Crookston, MN.

John was preceded in death by parents and a brother, Raymond.

ORGANIST: Polly Beyer
CASKETBEARERS: Benjamin Schafer, Peter, Schafer, Timothy Schafer, Saul LaCoursiere, Ivan LaCoursiere, Leonard LaCoursiere, Max LaCoursiere, Emmett LaCoursiere and Forrest DeRosier