Rev. James F. Schaefer

Rev. James F. Schaefer, 90, Wausau, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

He was born February 27, 1935, in the family farmhouse in the township of Lincoln, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, the son of Elmer J. and Evangeline M. (Schmidtknecht) Schaefer. His grandparents were Frank and Anna (Rotering) Schaefer, and Frank and Kate (Theisen) Schmidtknecht. He attended St. Boniface Catholic Elementary School in Waumandee, WI (1941-1949), and high school and college education took place at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, WI (1949-1957). His theological studies were completed at St. John’s Seminary and University in Collegeville, MN. On May 20, 1961, he was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Cross Seminary Chapel, La Crosse, WI by Bishop John P. Treacy. His first priestly assignment was at Sacred Heart Parish, Marshfield, WI as Associate Pastor, 1961-1963. In 1963 he was the temporary administrator of St. Boniface Parish in Waumandee, WI and then Associate Pastor (1963-1970) at St. Anne Parish, Wausau, WI. From 1970-1971 he was Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Arcadia, WI, and also part-time Associate at St. Stanislaus Parish, Arcadia, WI and temporary administrator of St. Michael’s Parish, North Creek, WI followed by being an Associate Pastor at St. Stephen’s Parish, Stevens Point, WI, (1971-1973). His first Pastorate was at St. Bartholomew Parish, Mill Creek, WI (1973-1974), followed by a Pastorate at Holy Rosary Parish, Lima, WI (1974-1975) and then assigned as Pastor of St. Louis Parish, Dorchester, WI and remained there until he was granted status as a Senior Priest, retiring in 2005. After retirement he spent many years as a substitute priest in various parishes.

Fr. Schaefer is survived by two sisters, Joanne of N. Ft. Meyers, FL and Carol of Arvada, CO, an aunt, nieces, and a nephew. He is further survived by the Kozlowski and Quandt families from Wausau, WI who have been family to him for over 60 years.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles (1975), his mother, Vange, (1989) and father, Elmer (2002).

Fr. Schaefer was a member of the Third-Degree Knights of Columbus, George Schreier Council No. 1069 and was a member and Past Faithful Friar of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Pere Rene Menard General Assembly No. 1449. He was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters since 1945, served two terms on the Board of Directors of the St. Joseph Priest Fund and was a consultant for the Fifth Diocesan Synod. He participated in several National Bowling Tournaments, was a long-time season ticket holder of the Minnesota Vikings, played semi-pro baseball in the Midwest, bowled, golfed and was a member of various country clubs and hunted on the family farm in Buffalo County, WI. He was the proprietor of Padre’s Pinery in the Township of Bradley, Tomahawk, WI and enjoyed working at the Pinery and on the family farm.

A private funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Waumandee, WI. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. A public visitation will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, WI 54403 Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.