Zeno Schafer

Zeno W. "Sam" Schafer, 88, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, where he had lived since October 2008.

He was born Nov. 3, 1920, in Kelso, Mo., to Frank J. and Ortha Heisserer Schafer. He and Sopha A. Beel were married Feb. 9, 1942, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. Sopha passed away Jan. 16, 2005.

Sam was a U.S. Army World War II veteran, serving from June 1942 to November 1945.

He was a lifelong farmer and prior to his retirement in 1986 he worked 20 years for the Corps of Engineers. He was a 65-year member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, a member of Bishop-Timon Knights of Columbus Council 6405 and Altenthal-Joerns American Legion in Jackson and a lifetime member of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include three sons, Donald Schafer of Atlanta, Richard (Donna) Schafer of Marble Hill, Mo., Frank (Lisa) Schafer of Perryville, Mo.; four daughters, Mary (Bill) Whiteside of Jackson, Rosie (Rodney) Roshek of Wright City, Mo., Judy (Brad) Proffer of Hamilton, Mo., Susan (Larry) Bruhl of Jackson; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; two stepgrandchildren; and eight great-stepgrandchildren.

Also surviving is a brother, Frank (Lane) Schafer of Shelbyville, Ill.; three sisters, Emma Marx of California, Marie Hartwig of Cape Girardeau, Marilyn (Harold) Vaughn of Foley, Mo.; two brothers-in-law, Charles (Petra) Beel of St. Peters, Mo., Edward (Shirley) Beel of Cape Girardeau; a sister-in-law, Lavern Winebarger of Womack, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Louis, Raymond and George Schafer; three sisters, Annie Hoffman, Celeste Kempfer and LeeAnn Jones; two granddaughters; and a stepgranddaughter.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. An American Legion service will be held at 7.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with deacon Walter Biri officiating. Burial will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Missouri Veterans Home or Southeast Hospice.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.