Germaine Virginia Schaeffer

Germaine V. Schaeffer (Richter)

August 31, 1939 - February 14, 2026 (86)

Germaine passed away peacefully at home on February 14, 2026, at 6:28 PM - Valentine's Day. A fitting farewell for a woman who chose love every single day of her life.

She was born in Bird Island, Minnesota, to William and Clara (Majeske) Richter, the ninth of ten children in a close-knit family. She graduated from Saint Mary's School in Bird Island and later moved to Saint Paul, where she worked at Saint Joseph's Hospital. That's where she met Jim Schaeffer. He would become her husband, and together they built 54 years of marriage grounded in faith, humor, and adventure.

Germaine loved creating a warm, welcoming home. She decorated for every holiday and made everyday life feel special - often marking the seasons with her cut-out sugar cookies. She was known for her baking - her chocolate chip cookies and banana bread were favorites, and Jim could always count on his annual birthday lemon meringue pie. But Christmas was truly her season. She made dozens upon dozens of Christmas cookies every year, and everyone looked forward to them. The entire house was transformed with her decorating - every room touched by her care - and it carried a warmth that everyone felt.

She and Jim built a life outdoors. They hunted, fished, rollerbladed, shot trap and skeet, camped, canoed, and completed 11 trips to the Boundary Waters together. They were true partners - and more than once, she out-fished him, something she quietly took pride in.

She was a fan of Minnesota teams - Vikings, Twins, Gophers, Wild, Timberwolves, and Lynx - but truthfully, she simply enjoyed watching sports. If a game was on, she was happy. If it wasn't on TV, she tuned in on the radio. She read the newspaper daily, never skipped her word search, and enjoyed playing solitaire and cribbage on her tablet. She loved sitting down to play cribbage or Uno with family and rarely turned down a good game.

Germaine was quietly strong. After her breast cancer diagnosis and stroke in 2018, and later recurrences, she faced each challenge with determination. She measured time by family milestones and simply wanted to be there for her girls.

After Jim passed in 2021, the caregivers from Morning Glory Home Care became dear companions. What began as care grew into friendship, filling her days with conversation, game shows, watching the Food Channel, following sports, and steady kindness.

Although her speech slowed after her stroke, her mind remained sharp. She remembered birthdays, stories, and the details that mattered. She listened and cared deeply.

Daily phone calls with Susie and Josie were a highlight of her days, and she always loved hearing from Jamie as well. Those simple conversations meant everything to her.

Germaine is survived by her daughter, Susie (Joe Gorski); granddaughters Josie and Jamie; sisters Patty O'Connor and Kathleen Neubauer; siblings-in-law Jack Davidson and Kay Richter; their beloved German Shorthair, Ralph; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, William and Clara Richter; parents-in-law Henry and Lorraine Schaeffer; siblings Margaret Schneider, Helen Schulte, William "Butch" Richter, Barbara Baumann, Aggie Davidson, Chuck Richter, and Msgr. John Richter; and brother-in-law Randy Schaeffer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Church of St. Mary, 261 E. 8th St., St. Paul, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery.

She fought hard.

She loved deeply.

Now she rests in peace.

Blessed be her memory.