Joseph Robert Schafer

Joseph Robert Schafer, 88, of Mason, Ohio passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 10th, 2023 surrounded by his loving family.

Joe was born September 4, 1934, in Wheeling, West Virginia, son of the late Joseph John and Gertrude Freidhof Schafer. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Sarah Jean “Jeanie” Hughes Schafer, along with their five children, Joseph H. Schafer (Maureen) of Arlington, VA; Erin Hirko (Scott) of Lebanon, OH; Sally McArdle (Pete) of Charlotte, NC; Rita Schuchardt (Craig) of Kennesaw, GA; and Patrick Schafer (Paula) of Mason, OH. He was a beloved grandfather to 21 grandchildren including Joe P. Schafer (Elie), Mary Bridget Schafer, Tom Schafer, Katherine Schafer Swartling (Matt), Peter Schafer, Lucy Schafer, Bridget Hirko Fullenkamp (Jonathan), Colleen Hirko, Matthew Hirko, Shannon Hirko, Jack McArdle, Molly McArdle, Kevin McArdle, Kate McArdle, Andrew Schuchardt, Charles Schuchardt, Catherine Schafer, Caroline Schafer, Patrick Schafer, Matthew Schafer and Elisabeth Schafer, and five great-grandchildren including Colette (Coco) and Joseph Thomas (JT) Schafer along with Grace, Evelyn and William Fullenkamp.

He is also survived by dear nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle “Chug” - Theresa (Verne Disney) Leinweber, Bill (Marcia) Leinweber, Pat (Lisa) Leinweber, David Leinweber, Kevin (Nicole) Leinweber, and Lorrie (Matt) Tantom along with many cousins and hundreds of friends.

Joe was a graduate of St. Alphonsus Grade School in Wheeling, WV where he made life-long “First Grade Friends,” a graduate of Wheeling Central Catholic High School, and attended Youngstown State University and the University of Cincinnati. Joe joined the United States Army in 1957, proudly serving as a Signal Soldier in Germany with the 7th Army’s Engineering Battalion until 1959. After completing his military service, he returned to Wheeling where he met the love of his life, Jeanie Hughes, on a blind date. They married on October 7, 1961.

Joe began his career with the Post Office in 1960 as a letter carrier and was selected to the United States Postal Inspection Service in 1965. He served as a Postal Inspector in the Northeast and Midwest until retiring in 1989. He remained actively involved in organizing gatherings of retired inspectors.

After retirement from the Inspection Service, Joe worked as a realtor with Sibcy Cline, for the Cincinnati Reds in their clubhouse, and as a starter at The Grizzly Golf Course. He enjoyed traveling with Jeanie, exploring Korea, Germany, Austria, and Italy as well as visiting children and grandchildren across the country. His recent travel with Jeanie and their children included a 2018 trip to Ireland to visit Jeanie’s relatives, followed by a trip to St. Joseph Settlement, WV to visit Joe’s family and friends from his childhood.

An active member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church for 34 years, Joe was also a life-long member and former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was a man of quiet but strong faith. Throughout his life, he served many additional church, community, and national organizations, including Little League Baseball, Boy Scouts, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Joe was an avid sports fan, fiercely loyal to the West Virginia Mountaineers. He rooted for both the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals unless they played each other (the Browns got his cheers). He loved golf, cards (especially Euchre being his favorite), and rare stamp and coin collecting. He regularly participated in and supported his children’s and grandchildren’s sports teams, theater productions, recitals, concerts, and all the adventures of his growing family. Known for his quiet sense of humor, extreme kindness, and patience, he touched many lives. He was loved, respected, and will be missed by so many. He was a champion of the goodness in everyone.

Joe treasured his family and enjoyed family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving (at which time many holidays were also celebrated) and the biennial Schafer Family Vacation. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and never ended a phone call without saying “Tell everybody I love them.”

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William Schafer, his sister Mary Margaret Schafer, and his sister-in-law Mary Eileen Hughes Leinweber.

Family and friends will be received on Monday, August 14 from 11:00 to 11:55 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8815 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held immediately following at noon. A private interment will be held later at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of Cincinnati Blue Ash, P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263-3597 https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/ or to The Community of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8815 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249 donation and funeral online streaming at https://good-shepherd.org/live-stream-good-shepherd-mass.