Obituary of Donald Schaffer

Donald J. Schaffer, Sr. of Flushing, Michigan, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at McLaren Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 1:00pm at St. MaryAaas Catholic Church in Mt. Morris. Reverend Father Roy Horning will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery located adjacent to St. MaryAaas Church with graveside military honors. Visitation will be Thursday, October 21, 2010 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm and on Friday from 1:00pm until 8:00pm at Miles Martin Funeral Home located at 1194 E. Mt. Morris Rd., Mt. Morris, Michigan 48458 (Telephone 810-686-2210). On Friday evening, family, friends, and parish will meet at the funeral home at 7:00pm to pray the rosary, followed by the Knights of Columbus memorial service. Memorial contributions may be considered to St. Mary Catholic School in Mt. Morris or St. Robert Catholic School in Flushing. Envelopes are available at the funeral home and church. Donald was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 23, 1928, the son of Conrad and Frances (Wittbrodt) Schaffer. He married Patricia Ann Flynn on August 2, 1952 at St. MaryAaas in Mt. Morris, and the two enjoyed 58 years of marriage. Donald completed a long and successful career with the Equitable Life Insurance Company as District Manager and Agent before his retirement in 1998. Prior to his marriage, he served as a corporal in the World War II U.S. Army of Occupation in Germany from 1948 to 1951. He belonged to many affiliations, which included a charter member of the Mt. Morris K of C 4285, Past President of Mt. Morris Kiwanis Club, Post Commander of the Mt. Morris VFW Post 7577 from 1957-1958, Post Commander of the Flushing VFW Post 5666 from 1991-1993, and an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 126. Donald was a devout Catholic and member of St. Roberts Catholic Church for over 40 years. DonAaas faith was very important to him, and he lived his life accordingly. His family was always number one, and he loved all the family gatherings. All who knew and loved him will sadly miss him. Don loved traveling and enjoyed winters in Ellenton, Florida, with his wife and their many friends. He loved camping and vacationing in his motor home and was blessed with two trips of a lifetime, one to Ireland with all of PatriciaAaas brothers and sisters, and a return visit to Germany 48 years after he served there in the U.S. Army. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Patricia of Flushing; six children, Donald (Suzanne) Schaffer of Flushing, Sally (Rick) Jamison of Swartz Creek, John (Julie) Schaffer of Bloomfield Hills, Dennis (Sharon) Schaffer of Alpharetta, GA, Mary Reese of Traverse City, and Tresa (Scot) Reneaud of Goodrich; 13 grandchildren, Meredith (Brandon) Boone of Atlanta, GA, Amy (William) Johnson of Grand Blanc, Meagan (Mason) Hildabridle of Traverse City, Kelly Yancho of Kincheloe, LCPL Michael Reese USMC currently in Afghanistan, Joseph Yancho of Swartz Creek, Katelyn, Lexi, and Jack Schaffer of Bloomfield Hills, Jacqueline and Madeline Reneaud of Goodrich and Olivia and Joshua Schaffer of Alpharetta, GA; three sisters, Doris Fish of Mt. Morris, Shirley Livingston of Flint, and Mary Rutter of Tacoma, WA; brother, Conrad (Mildred) Schaffer of Sterling Heights, formerly of Gaylord; sister-in-law, Marilyn Schaffer of Clio. He was preceded in death by his brothers, William, Thomas, James, Richard, and John; and sisters, Virginia, Marilyn, Patricia, and Jo Ann. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home, church or online at www.martinfuneralhome.com.