Obituary of Earl Schaefer

Earl P. Schaefer, age 84, died Tuesday, November 17th, 2009, at Waccamaw Hospital in Murrell's Inlet, SC of cardiac failure. Earl was born February 27, 1925 in Poughkeepsie, NY to the late Frank and Ida Schaefer. Earl was a decorated career military man, serving in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army during WW II, with continuing Army service through the Korean and Vietnam Wars until his retirement in 1967. He was a past member of the American Legion Post 1302 and the VFW Post 170. Earl was a world traveler, artist, singer, musician, and handyman extraordinaire. Without doubt he lived a very full life. He loved music and enjoyed making music tapes for anyone who cared to listen. He was a simple man at heart, humble, extremely generous and later in life enjoyed gardening, puttering around his shed and sharing stories about his military life and travels abroad. He was a wonderful father, caring husband, and loving grandfather and was endeared to all who ever met him. Earl is survived by Irene Schaefer (Murrell's Inlet, SC), his wife of 31 years; his daughter Jane (Poughkeepsie), her daughter Elaine (Poughkeepsie) and his sons Mark (Montana), and David (Poughkeepsie); brothers Ernest (Pawleys Island, SC) and Douglas (Poughkeepsie) and seven grandchildren, Kristen Schaefer, Mark Schaefer, Scott Holewinski, Sean Holewinski, Brandon Holewinski, David Schaefer, and Holden Schaefer; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in the U.S. and England. He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Winifred Peggy Briggs of Harlow, Essex, England; sister Georgette Walker of Poughkeepsie and his cousin and closest confidant, Harry Rose of Poughkeepsie. Calling hours will be held Monday, November 23, 2009 from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11 am, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, Salt Point Turnpkike, Poughkeepsie, NY.