Gerhardt "Jerry" Schaefer

Gerhardt "Jerry" Schaefer, age 84 of Wolf Lake, died Sunday, June 4, 2023 at his home. He was born on March 25, 1939 in Linn, MO. He was the sixth of ten children born to William and Angela (Schroeder) Schaefer. He married Sharon Turkington on July 4, 1970. She preceded him in death on November 15, 2007. He married Judy King Levan on November 18, 2011.

Jerry is survived by his wife Judy Schaefer of Wolf Lake; his children, Bill Schaefer of Austin, TX, Roger (Angie) Levan of Poplar Bluff, MO, Hunter Levan of Nashville, TN, Cody (Marian) Levan of Oran, MO, Lisa File of Indianapolis, IN and Natalie McCarty of Carbondale; nine grandchildren, Shelby, Roger III, Jase, Leo, Dylan and Jameson Levan, Elijah and Payton McCarty and Alyson; two sisters, Joan Fisher of Thebes and Susan Evers of Holts Summit, MO; four brothers, Bob Schaefer of Frankenstein, MO, Eugene and Dick Schaefer, both of Wolf Lake and Tom (Susan) Schaefer of Columbia, MO; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death his parents, first wife, a daughter, Christy Lynn Schaefer; sisters, Elizabeth "Bets" Thoenen and Lillian Luckenotte; a brother, Albert Schaefer; brothers-in-law, Ed Thoenen, Jim Luckenotte, Leo Fisher and Jim Evers; sisters-in-law, Esther and Kay Schaefer.

Jerry graduated from Linn High School before going on to graduate from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in farm management. During college, Jerry participated in ROTC and was inducted into the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. For three and half years, he was stationed in Germany and Italy before being discharged in 1965 as a 1st Lieutenant. After his discharge from military service, Jerry was employed by J.I. Case Company for two years. At that time, he and his brother Gene had the opportunity to purchase Wilson Farm Supply in Wolf Lake. Over the next 56 years, Jerry would manage the business as it transitioned from selling farm equipment to selling used construction and logging equipment parts nationally and internationally. He was one of the founding members and director of the National Tractor Parts Dealers Association

Jerry was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Anna. Over the years, he has served his community as a volunteer fireman and fire chief of the Wolf Lake Fire Department; Shawnee Valley Water District board chairman for 35 years; a board member of the Wolf Lake Sanitary Corporation, Wolf Lake Community Center, Wolf Lake Community Park and Jackson-Union County Port District. He was commissioner of the Clear Creek Levee District.

A memorial mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Anna with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow at Casper Cemetery. Family and friends may gather from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2023 at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Christy Lynn Schaefer Memorial Scholarship Fund or the Wolf Lake Community Park. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.