Harry E. Schaeffer was born on January 11, 1933 in Ruskin, Nebraska to Dina Hespen Schaeffer and Wallace Earl Schaeffer and passed away on August 31, 2018 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He was married to Harriett J. Heishman on August 26, 1992 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Harry Graduated from Ruskin High School in 1950 and taught school in that rural area until he entered the Army. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of Korea, serving as a Medical Technician from 1953 – 1955. He then attended the Gradwohl School of Laboratory Sciences in 1956 and then attended and graduated with a B.A. from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1960. He was a Bioanalyst for many years, as owner of the Lincoln Medical Lab, and then later working for Harris Labs. He was a Lutheran.
He is survived by his wife Harriett of 26 years; two sons Clinton Schaeffer and wife Margaret Charlton and Jeffery Schaeffer and wife Karen, all of Denver, Colorado; two step-daughters Jan Townsend of Sallisaw, Oklahoma and Julie Marmurek and husband Steve of Birmingham, Alabama; five grandchildren, Raymond Schaeffer of Denver, Colorado, Sarah Schaeffer of Great Falls, Montana, Djorn Buchholz of Dallas, Texas, Lyndsey Haas and husband Adam, and Samantha Marmurek all of Birmingham, Alabama; three sisters Helen Buckles of
Deshler, Nebraska, Bertha Christensen of Superior, Nebraska, and Pauline Fisher of Kearney, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, one grandchild, Adam Marmurek, one brother Eugene Schaeffer, and two sisters, Irene Davis and Mildred Schaeffer.
Harry was a gifted self-taught musician. He played the guitar, banjo, mandolin, keyboards, accordion, harmonica and drums. He was the lead singer for the musical group The Moonlighters from 1965 – 1980. He loved to entertain people and played frequently with his wife at community events, nursing homes, and senior centers and especially enjoyed jamming with his musician friends.
Memorials may be given to the Food Bank of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Roper and Sons Funeral Home, 4300 ‘O’ Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. No visitation/cremation.