Walter Schafheitle

Walter Schafheitle
7/23/1930 - 8/10/2013

San Jose, Calif. - Walter Schafheitle, 83, died Sat., Aug. 10, 2013 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose shortly after experiencing congestive heart failure while attending a family gathering. He was surrounded by loving family in his passing. Walter was a resident of Redwood City, Calif. for 38 years in which he was still living in his family home purchased in 1975.

Born in Olten, Switzerland, he was the son of the late Paul and Martha (Kaufmann) Schafheitle. He married the late Lorelle (St. Pierre) Schafheitle, a native of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in San Francisco on Sept. 2, 1961.

He is survived by his three children and eight granddaughters. His oldest daughter, Sonja (Schafheitle) Siri and her husband Daniel of Chico, Calif., his middle son, Paul Schafheitle of Agoura Hills, Calif., and his youngest son, Peter Schafheitle and his wife Catherine of Folsom, Calif.

Walter is also survived by his older brother, Marcel Schafheitle and his wife Nellie of Wilderswil, Switzerland.

Walter lived in Liberia, Africa for 7 years before settling in the U.S. He had a long career in photography, loved to dance, was very athletic; enjoyed stamp collecting and time with his family.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Pius Church in Redwood City, Calif. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Menlo Park, Calif.