James Paul Schafer 1957 - 2017

SCHAFER, KOOIMA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/13/2017 at 00:07:47

Sioux City Journal
8 March 2017

SIOUX CITY | James P. Schafer, 59, of LaGrange, Ga., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, in LaGrange.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in LaGrange. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Mesa, Ariz. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary in LaGrange. Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

James Paul "Jim" Schafer was born on Sept. 27, 1957, in Sioux City, to Marvin and Mary "Pat" Schafer. He graduated from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School with the class of 1976 and obtained a bachelor's degree from Morningside College in 1981.

He was in the LED lighting industry for several years and was currently key account manager for Osram Optio Semiconductors.

He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in LaGrange and was active in Knights of Columbus and Trail Life. Over the years, he has been involved in Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and Lifeteen. Jim lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, his big laugh and warm smile welcomed everyone. He loved spending time working in the yard or following his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling teams.

He was married to Kerry Kooima Schafer for 38 years. They were married in Iowa and moved to Arizona in 1988, then to Georgia in 2011. He had two children, Eric James Schafer (wife, April Haas Schafer) of Milton, Fla., and Leah Marie Schafer of Phoenix, Ariz.; his sisters, Catherine Schafer Stokes (spouse, Rich), Janet Schafer Anderson, Virginia "Ginger" Schafer Dunn and Patricia Schafer McKeever (spouse, Russell); and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter's Catholic Church.