Jerome Arnold "Jerry" Schafer

Jerome (Jerry) Schafer, 86, of Midland, Michigan, died in Midland on December 23rd, 2025.
He was born in Fowler, Michigan in 1939 to Sylvester and Johanna (Halfmann) Schafer and grew up on the family farm. After graduating from High School, where he played most sports, as he said, "I had to play since there were only ten boys in my class", he received his degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University. Jerry began his career in Alaska where he helped design and build the state's first paved highways in remote areas. Upon returning to Michigan, he married Kaye (Reed) in 1964. Jerry worked for Hunter, Whittier Engineers and Surveyors in Midland, first as an engineer and eventually as owner. He merged with Ayres Associates in the early 1980s, running the Midland office until his retirement in 1997.
Dad modeled living life with joy, always up for an adventure, including family month-long trips in the motorhome, swimming at the cottage at Higgins Lake, and supporting his kids and grandkids' many passions. He was active serving on many Boards, including Cran Hill Ranch, Midland Christian School, Christian Adventures and Midland Reformed Church. He lived a life full of faith, trusting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He cherished his wife of sixty-one years, Kaye (Reed), and family including four daughters Mary (Will) Greeley, Annette (Kenneth) Cook, Rebecca (Todd) Hartgerink, Deb (Arden) Postma, and son Pat (Jen) Schafer. He prized his ten grandchildren: Matthew (Alyssa) Greeley, Nathan (Emily) Greeley, Makalah (Matt) Scholten, Colin (Brittany) Hartgerink, Justin Cook, Abigail Cook, Jillian (Tony) VanderPloeg, Isaac Postma, McKenna Schafer, and Brooklin (Sam) Halbach. He considered the "little ones" great gifts: surviving him are seven great-grandchildren: Zeke, Kai, Naomi, Ellie, Riley, Eva and Oliver.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 27th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Midland Reformed Church, located at 1100 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland, MI 48640. The funeral service will commence at 3:00 pm on the same day, at the church.
For memorials in honor of Dad please consider Cran Hill Ranch, in Rodney, Michigan or Rehoboth Christian School in Rehoboth, New Mexico.
All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Schafer family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one.