Gerhardt ‘Jerry’ Schaefer
Gerhardt “Jerry” Schaefer, 84, of Wolf Lake, died Sunday, June 4, 2023, at his home.
He was born on March 25, 1939, in Linn, MO. He was the sixth of 10 children born to William and Angela Schroeder Schaefer.
He married Sharon Turkington on July 4, 1970. She preceded him in death on Nov. 15, 2007. He married Judy King Levan on Nov. 18, 2011.
Mr. Schaefer is survived by his wife, Judy Schaefer of Wolf Lake; his children, Bill Schaefer of Austin, Texas, Roger (Angie) Levan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Hunter Levan of Nashville, Tenn., Cody (Marian) Levan of Oran, Mo., Lisa File of Indianapolis, Ind., and Natalie McCarty of Carbondale; nine grandchildren, Shelby, Roger III, Jase, Leo, Dylan and Jameson Levan, Elijah and Payton McCarty and Alyson; two sisters, Joan Fisher of Thebes and Susan Evers of Holts Summit, Mo.; four brothers, Bob Schaefer of Frankenstein, Mo., Eugene and Dick Schaefer, both of Wolf Lake and Tom (Susan) Schaefer of Columbia, Mo.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death his parents; his first wife; a daughter, Christy Lynn Schaefer; sisters Elizabeth “Bets” Thoenen and Lillian Luckenotte; a brother, Albert Schaefer; brothers-in-law Ed Thoenen, Jim Luckenotte, Leo Fisher and Jim Evers; and sisters-in-law, Esther and Kay Schaefer.
He graduated from Linn High School before going on to graduate from the University of Missouri with a bachelor of science degree in farm management.
During college, he participated in ROTC and was inducted into the U.S. Army as a 2nd lieutenant. For three and half years, he was stationed in Germany and Italy, before being discharged in 1965 as a 1st lieutenant.
After his discharge from military service, Mr. Schaefer was employed by J.I. Case Company for two years. At that time, he and his brother, Gene, had the opportunity to purchase Wilson Farm Supply in Wolf Lake.
Over the next 56 years, Mr. Schaefer would manage the business as it transitioned from selling farm equipment to selling used construction and logging equipment parts nationally and internationally. He was one of the founding members and director of the National Tractor Parts Dealers Association.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Anna. Over the years, he has served his community as a volunteer fireman and fire chief of the Wolf Lake Fire Department; as Shawnee Valley Water District board chairman for 35 years; as a board member of the Wolf Lake Sanitary Corporation, Wolf Lake Community Center, Wolf Lake Community Park and Jackson-Union County Port District. He was commissioner of the Clear Creek Levee District.
A memorial Mass was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Anna, with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating. Inurnment with military honors followed at Casper Cemetery near Anna.
To visit his memorial page and to leave online condolences for his family, visit the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home website at rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.