Feb. 14, 1916 - May 19, 2012
DONALDSON - Rev. Roman J. Schaefer, Colonel, USAF Retired, 98, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Catherine Kasper Life Center in Donaldson, IN. Fr. Schaefer was born in Nicollet County, Minnesota, on February 14, 1916, the son of Leo and Amelia (Bushard) Schaefer. He attended Holy Trinity School in New Ulm, MN, and entered St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1942. His first Mass was at Visitation Church on the Fort Road in rural Nicollet County. After two years at St. Agnes in St. Paul, he entered the Army Air Corps and attended Chaplain School at Harvard University. He was in WW II in Bavaria near Munich from 1946 - 1950. He served as chaplain at several bases during his 25 years in the Air Force, ministering to soldiers and their families in two other foreign wars: the Korean Conflict while in Yukota, Japan, and the Vietnam Conflict when based in Guam. His last assignment was at Vandenberg AFB, California, retiring as Colonel in 1969. He then returned to the Diocese of New Ulm, MN, where he was the pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Fairfax, MN. During his years in the Diocese he was active in veterans groups starting in Fairfax with the VFW and Legion, the Minnesota VFW as Chaplain, and was later elected National Chaplain of the VFW. He viewed this continued service as his responsibility for freedom. He retired to Florida and served as a priest in residence at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in inner city Ft. Lauderdale for 19 years. Moving to Catherine Kasper, Donaldson, IN, in 2005 where his retired sister, Sr. Sharon Schaefer (P.H.J.C.) lived, she preceded him in death in 2010. He was loved by the sisters of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ as one of their own. The staff at Catherine Kasper enjoyed caring for him. The family wishes to thank the Disabled Veterans Chapter 42 for their friendship and faithful visits to Fr Schaefer. Fr. Schaefer was an avid pilgrimage leader, serving as chaplain for many pilgrimages to Marian shrines around the world, to Rome and the Holy Land. He lived with a deep faith, active prayer life and prayed the Rosary daily with great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During his many years as a chaplain, a diocesan pastor and in his active retirement in Florida, he ministered to thousands of Catholics. No doubt during his 70 years of priestly service, he anointed thousands and heard many last confessions. All those whom he touched spiritually who have passed on, now welcome him in the next life. We commemorate his 70 years as a priest, friend, uncle and pray warrior in faith. May he rest in peace in our Holy Mother's arms in God's abundant love this day. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Aurelia Boettger of New Ulm, MN. Preceding him in death are his parents and brothers, Herbert, Lawrence, Henry, Leo and James; and his sisters, Ester, Amelia and Sharon (Ruth). Visitation will be held from at 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Catherine Kasper Life Center Chapel, 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, IN, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Michael Winkowski will officiate. A meal will be served immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513. The family may receive online condolences through the funeral home's website at www.johnson-danielson.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 21, 2012
DONALDSON - Rev. Roman J. Schaefer, Colonel, USAF Retired, 98, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Catherine Kasper Life Center in Donaldson, IN. Fr. Schaefer was born in Nicollet County, Minnesota, on February 14, 1916, the son of Leo and Amelia (Bushard) Schaefer. He attended Holy Trinity School in New Ulm, MN, and entered St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1942. His first Mass was at Visitation Church on the Fort Road in rural Nicollet County. After two years at St. Agnes in St. Paul, he entered the Army Air Corps and attended Chaplain School at Harvard University. He was in WW II in Bavaria near Munich from 1946 - 1950. He served as chaplain at several bases during his 25 years in the Air Force, ministering to soldiers and their families in two other foreign wars: the Korean Conflict while in Yukota, Japan, and the Vietnam Conflict when based in Guam. His last assignment was at Vandenberg AFB, California, retiring as Colonel in 1969. He then returned to the Diocese of New Ulm, MN, where he was the pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Fairfax, MN. During his years in the Diocese he was active in veterans groups starting in Fairfax with the VFW and Legion, the Minnesota VFW as Chaplain, and was later elected National Chaplain of the VFW. He viewed this continued service as his responsibility for freedom. He retired to Florida and served as a priest in residence at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in inner city Ft. Lauderdale for 19 years. Moving to Catherine Kasper, Donaldson, IN, in 2005 where his retired sister, Sr. Sharon Schaefer (P.H.J.C.) lived, she preceded him in death in 2010. He was loved by the sisters of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ as one of their own. The staff at Catherine Kasper enjoyed caring for him. The family wishes to thank the Disabled Veterans Chapter 42 for their friendship and faithful visits to Fr Schaefer. Fr. Schaefer was an avid pilgrimage leader, serving as chaplain for many pilgrimages to Marian shrines around the world, to Rome and the Holy Land. He lived with a deep faith, active prayer life and prayed the Rosary daily with great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During his many years as a chaplain, a diocesan pastor and in his active retirement in Florida, he ministered to thousands of Catholics. No doubt during his 70 years of priestly service, he anointed thousands and heard many last confessions. All those whom he touched spiritually who have passed on, now welcome him in the next life. We commemorate his 70 years as a priest, friend, uncle and pray warrior in faith. May he rest in peace in our Holy Mother's arms in God's abundant love this day. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Aurelia Boettger of New Ulm, MN. Preceding him in death are his parents and brothers, Herbert, Lawrence, Henry, Leo and James; and his sisters, Ester, Amelia and Sharon (Ruth). Visitation will be held from at 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Catherine Kasper Life Center Chapel, 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, IN, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Michael Winkowski will officiate. A meal will be served immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513. The family may receive online condolences through the funeral home's website at www.johnson-danielson.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 21, 2012
Feb. 14, 1916 - May 19, 2012
DONALDSON - Rev. Roman J. Schaefer, Colonel, USAF Retired, 98, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Catherine Kasper Life Center in Donaldson, IN. Fr. Schaefer was born in Nicollet County, Minnesota, on February 14, 1916, the son of Leo and Amelia (Bushard) Schaefer. He attended Holy Trinity School in New Ulm, MN, and entered St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1942. His first Mass was at Visitation Church on the Fort Road in rural Nicollet County. After two years at St. Agnes in St. Paul, he entered the Army Air Corps and attended Chaplain School at Harvard University. He was in WW II in Bavaria near Munich from 1946 - 1950. He served as chaplain at several bases during his 25 years in the Air Force, ministering to soldiers and their families in two other foreign wars: the Korean Conflict while in Yukota, Japan, and the Vietnam Conflict when based in Guam. His last assignment was at Vandenberg AFB, California, retiring as Colonel in 1969. He then returned to the Diocese of New Ulm, MN, where he was the pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Fairfax, MN. During his years in the Diocese he was active in veterans groups starting in Fairfax with the VFW and Legion, the Minnesota VFW as Chaplain, and was later elected National Chaplain of the VFW. He viewed this continued service as his responsibility for freedom. He retired to Florida and served as a priest in residence at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in inner city Ft. Lauderdale for 19 years. Moving to Catherine Kasper, Donaldson, IN, in 2005 where his retired sister, Sr. Sharon Schaefer (P.H.J.C.) lived, she preceded him in death in 2010. He was loved by the sisters of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ as one of their own. The staff at Catherine Kasper enjoyed caring for him. The family wishes to thank the Disabled Veterans Chapter 42 for their friendship and faithful visits to Fr Schaefer. Fr. Schaefer was an avid pilgrimage leader, serving as chaplain for many pilgrimages to Marian shrines around the world, to Rome and the Holy Land. He lived with a deep faith, active prayer life and prayed the Rosary daily with great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During his many years as a chaplain, a diocesan pastor and in his active retirement in Florida, he ministered to thousands of Catholics. No doubt during his 70 years of priestly service, he anointed thousands and heard many last confessions. All those whom he touched spiritually who have passed on, now welcome him in the next life. We commemorate his 70 years as a priest, friend, uncle and pray warrior in faith. May he rest in peace in our Holy Mother's arms in God's abundant love this day. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Aurelia Boettger of New Ulm, MN. Preceding him in death are his parents and brothers, Herbert, Lawrence, Henry, Leo and James; and his sisters, Ester, Amelia and Sharon (Ruth). Visitation will be held from at 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Catherine Kasper Life Center Chapel, 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, IN, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Michael Winkowski will officiate. A meal will be served immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513. The family may receive online condolences through the funeral home's website at www.johnson-danielson.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 21, 2012
DONALDSON - Rev. Roman J. Schaefer, Colonel, USAF Retired, 98, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Catherine Kasper Life Center in Donaldson, IN. Fr. Schaefer was born in Nicollet County, Minnesota, on February 14, 1916, the son of Leo and Amelia (Bushard) Schaefer. He attended Holy Trinity School in New Ulm, MN, and entered St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1942. His first Mass was at Visitation Church on the Fort Road in rural Nicollet County. After two years at St. Agnes in St. Paul, he entered the Army Air Corps and attended Chaplain School at Harvard University. He was in WW II in Bavaria near Munich from 1946 - 1950. He served as chaplain at several bases during his 25 years in the Air Force, ministering to soldiers and their families in two other foreign wars: the Korean Conflict while in Yukota, Japan, and the Vietnam Conflict when based in Guam. His last assignment was at Vandenberg AFB, California, retiring as Colonel in 1969. He then returned to the Diocese of New Ulm, MN, where he was the pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Fairfax, MN. During his years in the Diocese he was active in veterans groups starting in Fairfax with the VFW and Legion, the Minnesota VFW as Chaplain, and was later elected National Chaplain of the VFW. He viewed this continued service as his responsibility for freedom. He retired to Florida and served as a priest in residence at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in inner city Ft. Lauderdale for 19 years. Moving to Catherine Kasper, Donaldson, IN, in 2005 where his retired sister, Sr. Sharon Schaefer (P.H.J.C.) lived, she preceded him in death in 2010. He was loved by the sisters of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ as one of their own. The staff at Catherine Kasper enjoyed caring for him. The family wishes to thank the Disabled Veterans Chapter 42 for their friendship and faithful visits to Fr Schaefer. Fr. Schaefer was an avid pilgrimage leader, serving as chaplain for many pilgrimages to Marian shrines around the world, to Rome and the Holy Land. He lived with a deep faith, active prayer life and prayed the Rosary daily with great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During his many years as a chaplain, a diocesan pastor and in his active retirement in Florida, he ministered to thousands of Catholics. No doubt during his 70 years of priestly service, he anointed thousands and heard many last confessions. All those whom he touched spiritually who have passed on, now welcome him in the next life. We commemorate his 70 years as a priest, friend, uncle and pray warrior in faith. May he rest in peace in our Holy Mother's arms in God's abundant love this day. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Aurelia Boettger of New Ulm, MN. Preceding him in death are his parents and brothers, Herbert, Lawrence, Henry, Leo and James; and his sisters, Ester, Amelia and Sharon (Ruth). Visitation will be held from at 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Catherine Kasper Life Center Chapel, 9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, IN, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Michael Winkowski will officiate. A meal will be served immediately after. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513. The family may receive online condolences through the funeral home's website at www.johnson-danielson.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 21, 2012
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