Edward A. Schafer

Edward Schafer, 87, of Beal City, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. A Funeral Mass for Ed will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Ricky Varner as celebrant. Father Thomas J. McNamara will concelebrate with Deacon Larry Fussman assisting. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The family will receive friends at the gathering room of the church on Sunday from 3-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph School or to the Dominican Sisters of Marywood in Grand Rapids. Envelopes will be available at the church or at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Ed was born Feb. 26, 1928, in Beal City, son of the late Isadore and Catherine (Schafer) Schafer. A graduate and valedictorian of Beal City High School in 1945, he married Mildred Tilmann on Jan. 24, 1948, at St. Philomena Church in Beal City. From that union they were blessed with seven children, Terrance (Barb) Schafer of Buena Vista, CO, Gloria (Thomas) Pung of Beal City, Victoria (Jerry) Sellon of Lake Isabella, Ronald (Linda) Schafer of Farwell, Beverly McCormick of Mt. Pleasant, Kevin (Jan) Schafer of Beal City, and Timothy (Lori) Schafer of Beal City. They were also blessed with 22 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Mildred, Ed is survived by three sisters, Eileen Hudak of Swartz Creek, Leona M. McDonald of Mt. Pleasant and Carol (David) Neyer of Mt. Pleasant; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Raymond; sister, Roselene Schafer; and infant grandchildren, Joseph Pung and Krista Ann Schafer. Ed was devoted to his faith, family and community. While raising his children, he worked as a farmer, healthcare worker, breeder and milk tester. His passion was in building and construction in which he did and loved for 30 years, having built well over 200 homes. The Schafer family thanks the Isabella County Medical Care Facility for its wonderful compassion that was shown to Ed the past three years.