Obit for Donovan posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
Jun 28, 1920 - Sep 25, 2013
 

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Donovan (Don) Schaefer was born to Matthew and Mary Schaefer in Austin, Minnesota on June 28, 1920.

He attended school in Adams, Minnesota. He was an assistant leader at Civilian Conservation Corp Company 714 at Zumbrota, Minnesota, where he worked as a stone mason and forester planting trees in the forests of Southeastern Minnesota during the Great Depression.

Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1940. He was a veteran of World War Two and the Korean War. Highlights of his Navy career included the occupation of Iceland in the summer of 1941, service in the Asiatic Pacific theatre (3 stars), the Navy Occupation of Europe, the European, African, and Middle Eastern Campaign, and the Atomic Bomb test on Bikini Atoll in the summer of 1946. He retired from the U.S. Navy in June 1960 as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate. After retiring from the U.S. Navy, he moved on to spend 18 years in the Civil Service at Tinker Air Force Base, retiring as a Section Chief in Classified Material shipping of the Supply Division.  Don then went to work at the General Motors Assembly Division in Oklahoma City working for 3 years in the paint department.  He then decided he wasn't quite ready to retire and spent his final fours years working as a School Bus Driver for the Norman Public Schools.

Donovan married Magdalen Jansing on April 11, 1953 at Saint Josephs Catholic Church in Norman, Oklahoma. They made their home in Norman from 1960 until 2003 when Liz passed on to be with our Lord. Don continued to live at their home until the last few weeks of his life when he moved to Arbor House Reminisce Center to spend his final days before going to be with our lord

Don was a 53 year member of the Fleet Reserve Association, U.S.S. Oklahoma BB-37 Branch 268. He was also a member of the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington D.C., and the Catholic Order of Foresters for over 50 years.

Don was an avid sportsman and he loved to fish with his family in Northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada on Lake of the Woods. He also enjoyed Pheasant Hunting in Nebraska where he was a member of the Logan Creek Branch of Pheasants Forever.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Matthew and Mary Schaefer, his wife Magdalen (Liz), brother Orin, brother David, and sister Adeline Schaefer (Hanson). He is survived by a son Alan, and daughter-in law, Kimberly of Norman, Oklahoma, two brothers, Richard Schaefer, and wife Lois of Baudette, Minnesota, Duane Schaefer and wife Jan of Rose Creek, Minnesota, three sisters, Florence Lee of Austin, Minnesota, Berniece Malacziweski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Lucille Hanson of Austin Minnesota.

Mass will be 10:30 am Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Norman.  

Arrangements for Don and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at the Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. Online condolences may be shared

Thank You For Your Service!

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