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BORN
1929
DIED
2018
Vern Schafer Obituary
Sept 5, 1929 - Nov 20, 2017 & Jan 7, 1932 - Dec 5, 2017
Both were residents of Lafayette. They were best of friends and were married for 56 years.Vern grew up in Grand Island Nebraska and moved to CA permanently after serving in the Korean War. Throughout his life he met and maintained a mountain of friends. The best being his wife, Esther. He worked in the real estate business in various capacities. He loved socializing and always enjoyed a good party. There are many stories of late nights at Orinda Country Club where he would spend most weekends on the links. For several years he battled skin cancer and passed away while recovering from a complicated surgery to remove a tumor.
Esther grew up in Iowa and moved to Minnesota when she was a teenager. After college, she moved to San Francisco where she met Vern. She taught elementary school for several years in the Hunters Point area of SF, then moved to Orinda for a few years and then to Lafayette. She owned and operated a small restaurant for several years in Concord. Besides keeping Vern in line, she learned to play golf and tennis and would play moderator on family outings. She was always a very active volunteer at Lafayette Elementary where she met many long time friends. She suffered from Alzheimer and passed away from related complications and probably because she somehow knew that Vern had passed recently. They are survived by their two sons, Joe and Scott and 4 grandchildren. Please send donations to Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) in lieu of flowers. There will be a celebration-of-life at Orinda CC on January 27 from 3:30pm-6:30pm.
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Memories and Condolences
for Vern Schafer
4 Entries
Larry Arnold
April 27, 2024
Joe and Scott. So sorry that I just learned of your Dad's and Mom's passing. You may not remember me we only met a couple times. Your Dad's mom and my grandmother were sisters. Perry and Anna were like grandparents to me while growing up in Kearney NE. When I was working for Sony in San Jose in 2014 I was able and so glad to meet up with your Dad for lunch and catch up and reminisce. Your Dad and my Mom were cousins but we're close when young and thought of themselves as brother and sister and hence we thought of your Dad as an Uncle. I visited your Mom and Dad in Lafayette and stayed with them several times when travel found me in the Bay area over the years but after you guys had left home. I liked your Mom very much and wish I could have known her better. May their memory be a blessing. Larry
Marcella Melendrez
May 11, 2020
i miss you Vern. May God keep you and Esther in his arms. Always. Marcella Melendrez
Brad Reardan
January 17, 2018
I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Verno and Esther's Tanglewood Lane world for several years in Lafayette as a periodic, interloping friend of their son's from college. Of course they would soon both become my unofficial 'Bay Area adopted parents.' I never encountered anything but hospitality, advice, laughs and interesting discussions with Esther about Foreign Affairs and Verno about sports, the Niner's, Tennis and Golf. Nothing but fond memories of two great people - who imparted their own humbleness, integrity and success on their two sons. Love FBR
January 15, 2018
My deepest sympathy to the family. " May the Lord of peace give you peace constantly in every way."
@Thes. 3:16
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Memorial Events
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