SCHAEFER, Melvin C. 1921-2010
SCHAEFER, HABREZETH, WINGERT, KIDWELL, SCHRINK
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/17/2010 at 09:40:30
[Waterloo Courier] Wednesday, July 7, 2010]
Melvin C. Schaefer, 89, of Papillion, Neb., died peacefully July 4 at Gretna Community Living Center. He was the husband of Joan Wingert Schaefer, to whom he was married for 64 years.
Born in Waterloo on April 24, 1921, he was the son of the late Peter Schaefer and Minnie Habrezeth Schaefer. He graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School, Waterloo, in 1940, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy later that year. After serving aboard the cruiser USS Omaha, he participated in the Normandy invasion, leading a group of landing craft at Omaha Beach. Following World War II, he joined the Naval Reserve. He advanced to Chief Petty Officer, then Warrant Officer, before earning a commission in 1960. He served in a variety of assignments throughout the Midwest before coming to Omaha to command the Naval Officer Records Support Activity at Fort Omaha. He also commanded Naval Reserve Centers in Madison, Wis., Des Moines and Davenport. His Naval service encompassed 36 years, and he retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1976. He retired in Des Moines, the same city from which he joined the Navy in 1940. His decorations and awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Naval Reserve Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
In retirement, he was employed by Boys' Town in Omaha. He was active in his parish, St. Columbkille, Papillion, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association, and the USS Omaha Association.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Virginia Kidwell of Waterloo, and a granddaughter, Megan Marie Schrink.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, Kenneth and Sally Schaefer of Middleton, Wis., and Jerome and Paula Schaefer of Gretna, Neb.; and daughters, Jolene and Joel Keefer of Coopersburg, Pa., Barbara and Tony Ciullo of Encinitas, Calif., Joanne Nalls of San Tan Valley, Ariz., and Melanie and Rob Schrink of Tyler, Texas; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles Schaefer of Waterloo; sisters, Sister Barbara Schaefer OSF of Dubuque and Gloria Barfield of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a son, Kenneth; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services 10 a.m. Friday, July 9, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, with interment in Cedar Dale Cemetery. Visitation from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary with a 7 p.m. wake service. Family will receive friends
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