Robert Schafer

Robert J. “Bob” Schafer, age 86, of Ottertail , MN , died peacefully Monday, July 7, 2008 , at the VA Hospital in Fargo , ND , with his family beside him.


Bob was the fourth child born to the late William and Margarat (VandenBerghe) Schafer on September 6, 1921 , in Fulda , MN . In 1942, at the age of 17, he joined the US Army. Following basic training he was stationed at Ft. Bliss , TX . Bob’s sweetheart, Geraldine Fitzpatrick traveled to Texas and they were married. Two days later, Bob was shipped out to help serve with the invasion of Italy . He was a driver of a jeep in the motor pool that went by convoy across Sicily to the front lines. They captured a couple of airports from the Germans and got their planes. During that time he was hit in the helmet with shrapnel and injured his left knee. He then got skin poisoning from eating out of tin cans and spent five months in the hospital in Ft. Louis , WA . Bob received the Purple Heart plus numerous other medals. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to Slayton , MN , where he farmed for a few years. He then went to work for the Civil Service for four years in Duluth , MN , and then returned to Slayton where he started his own plumbing, heating, and excavating business. In 1965 he and Gerry bought a cabin on Ottertail Lake , MN . In 1970 they moved to Ottertail and turned their cabin into a home. Bob did plumbing, heating, and excavating in the Ottertail area until 1980 when he retired. He and Gerry spent their winters in Mesa , AZ. Gerry passed away in 1991.



In 1997 Bob met LaVonne Perala and was united in marriage to her on June 27, 1998 , at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Perham , MN . They continued to live on Ottertail Lake and did some traveling each year.



Bob is survived by his wife, LaVonne “Vonnie”; daughter, Carol Schafer; grandson, Jeremy Kirkeide; stepsons, Scott Perala and Tom Perala; stepdaughter, Terri Murphy; stepgrandchildren, Christina Perala, Daniel Perala, and Mackinzie Perala; brothers, Harold and Leon; sister, Arlene Blair; son in law, Charles Babel; ex son in law, Richard Kirkeide; and many nieces and nephews.



Preceding Bob in death are his parents; first wife Gerry; daughter, Cathy (1986); and two sisters, Delores and Elaine.