Tim Warren Schaffer

Tim Warren Schaffer, 82, Ontario, Oregon, passed away on March 14, 2024 at a nursing home in Boise, ID, two months to the day after his wife Frances's passing.

Tim was born on July 18, 1941 in Ontario, OR to Herman (Harry) and Mildred (Millie) Schaffer. His mischievous childhood consisted of being stowaways with his friends on trains to Payette and hitchhiking back, and the occasional joyride in Studebakers he "borrowed" from his parents' dealership, Schaffer Motors. He graduated from Ontario High School in 1959, and would go on to play football for one year at Eastern Oregon College, then came back to Brogan to help out with the family ranch. Tim got a second shot at college football with the newly formed football team at Treasure Valley Community College in 1963. Hurting the starting quarterback in practice, the fiery head coach responded by moving Tim to quarterback for the rest of the season, where they finished 3-2-1.

When Tim's draft number was selected to serve his country in Vietnam, he accepted this call with two others: him and the two MPs who dragged him there. He served as part of the First Cavalry Division in Vietnam from 1965-1966 and was a proud US Army veteran, often being asked to share his stories with local schools.

Tim met an engaged Frances Enomoto while he was bartending at the Eastside Café in 1966 and with his humor and charisma, stole her away. They were married on September 14, 1968 and remained married for 55 years. After a brief time in Portland, Oregon, Tim and Frances moved to Brogan, Oregon in 1969, later to the Oregon Slope near Ontario, and settled in their final home in Ontario for the next 38 years.

Tim coached numerous sports over the years, and many of his former players will remember him for his militant approach to developing teams, clapping in cadence, and the occasional tongue lashing for not knowing their assignment. Coaching youth Optimist football for 20+ years, it was likely the first time those players had a grown man curse at them. As a spectator of his children and grandchildren's sports, he was known to chase officials out of the gym or get ejected from the sidelines.

Tim was a voracious reader, stemming in part from his time spent in an iron lung as a child due to polio. The literary canon for the Schaffer household included Dune, Catch-22, The Prophet, among others; none of which his children would read. Tim was the life of the party and will be remembered for his witty charm, his elaborate storytelling, and his innate ability to get under your skin. He will be missed, by most.

Tim is reunited in death with his wife Frances (Enomoto) Schaffer, parents Harry and Millie (Hutcheon) Schaffer, sons Jon Schaffer and William (Baby Bill) Schaffer, and daughter-in-law Margaret Knoell. He is survived by his sister Cindy (Murray) Nishihara; four children Kari (Jack) Joyce, Jennifer Schaffer, Joe Schaffer, and James Knoell; six grandchildren Chase Joyce, Ashlin Joyce, Ryker Brent, Avery Brent, Caitlyn Lawson, and Megan Knoell; niece Kaitlyn Naughton, and grandniece and grandnephew, Lily Naughton and Mason Norris.

Family and friends are invited to a potluck celebration of Tim's life at Yasuda's clubhouse at 1289 SE 2nd Street in Ontario on Saturday, March 30 from 1pm-4pm. Donations in memorial of Tim and Frances Schaffer can be made to Blessed Sacrament Church in Ontario, OR.