James Schaefer Sr.

James F. Schaefer Sr., 78, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 16, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, son of Edward A. and Lucille C. Thomure Schaefer. He and Evelyn L. McGuire were married Aug. 2, 1947, in Cape Girardeau. She died Aug. 4, 2000.

Schaefer moved to Alton, Ill., in 1958, and was a salesman with Jewel Tea until retiring in 1985. He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral and VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1942 to December 1946 as a boatswain mate 2nd class on the USS Fowler. He served on Bikini Atoll Operation Crossroads from October 1948 to September 1949.

Survivors include three sons, James Schaefer Jr. of Greenbelt, Md., John Schaefer of Jerseyville, Ill., Mark Schaefer of Alton; four daughters, Susan Vaden of Cambridge, Mass., Mary Fillback of Jerseyville, Margaret "Peggy" Tanner of South Roxana, Ill., Patricia "Patty" Dugan of Bethalto, Ill.; a sister, Judy Griffaw of Cape Girardeau; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, a daughter, two brothers, and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 7.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. James Seyer officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, with military graveside rites by VFW Post 3838 and Missouri Military Honor Guard.