George Schaefer

PEORIA - George Anthony Schaefer, 84, of Peoria died on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at home following a long illness.

A Mass in celebration of his life will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2013, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Peoria. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, April 12, 2013, at Davidson-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral home in Peoria. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria.

George was born in Covington, Ky., on June 13, 1928, son of George and Marie (Sandheger) Schaefer. After the family relocated to St. Louis, Mo., he attended St. Louis University High School and later graduated from St. Louis University in 1951.

He married Barbara (Quick) on Aug. 11, 1951. He and Barbara enjoyed more than 61 years of marriage.

He is survived by his wife; a son, Mark (Jennifer) Schaefer of Chesterfield, Mo.; a daughter, Sharon Mandli of Jupiter, Fla.; and six grandchildren, Gabrielle and James Naus, Catherine Schaefer and husband David Records, Barbara Schaefer, Michelle Mandli, Christopher Mandli and Jackson Mandli. He also is survived by a brother, Robert (Nancy) Schaefer of Reno, Nev.

His parents both preceded him in death; as did a sister, Jo Ann Morris; and a brother, William.

George enjoyed golf and his beloved baseball Cardinals, and was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church, and before that St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kickapoo, Ill.

At Caterpillar Inc., George began his career in Peoria as a trainee and in the corporate audit department in 1951, until he was transferred to the San Leandro, California, plant in 1956, and later named there as chief accountant. In 1962, he moved to Grenoble, France, where he was the finance and accounting manager. In 1968, George returned to Peoria as a corporate accounting division manager. In 1973, he became general manager of the Caterpillar Decatur, Ill., plant. In 1976, he was named a vice president, and an executive vice president in 1981, a director in 1983, vice chairman in 1984, and became chairman and chief executive officer in 1985. He retired from Caterpillar in 1990.

George was active in many Peoria area civic and charitable organizations. He was a trustee at Bradley University, and served on the board of Proctor Hospital. He also served on corporate boards at First Chicago Bank, Helmerich and Payne, McDonnell Douglas, AON and Morton International.

Above all, he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria or to the St. Jude Catholic Church School Building fund. Please visit George's story at www.woolsey-wilton.com.