John Joseph Schaefer

John Joseph Schaefer, 72 years old, of Chicago, IL died on Thursday, December 10th, 2020, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Loving father to Jennifer (Tom), Tony, Charlie, Chris (Pat), and Nick (Debbie); adoring grandfather to Alexander, Nicholas and Kelly; Loving uncle to Brea (Usman), Mark (Michelle), Christine and Brian (Dawn); loving great uncle to Peyton, Karma and Kayden; loving brother to Joe (Judy) and Peggy.

He was predeceased by his wife Germaine Schaefer, stepson Francis Bocskovits, brother James Schaefer. Parents Joseph and Margaret Schaefer.

John Schaefer was born on January 28th, 1948 in Chicago, IL to parents Joseph and Margaret Schaefer. John was the second of four children with older brother Joseph, younger brother James (deceased) and the youngest, his sister Peggy.

He grew up in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago and attended grade school at Saint Alphonsus. He had many stories of adventure and mischief from his youth. From sneaking into Cubs games, to ditching school to ride the red line all day, stealing fish out of the fountain pond in front of the church on Belmont and Orchard, risking life and limb including getting stuck in a drainpipe in Lake Michigan. John was always up for adventure and testing limits and, according to friends and family, he was always good for a laugh.

John attended Lake View High School in Chicago and graduated in 1966. He played football with great enthusiasm and remembered those times with great fondness.

John was drafted into the United States Army after high school. He served honorably from August 1967 to August 1973. An infantryman attached to both the 9th and 1st Infantry Divisions, John fought in the Vietnam War from February 15th 1968 to October 23rd, 1968, when he was grievously wounded by enemy mortar fire. He received various honors during his service including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle M-14 & M-16), Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Unit Commendation (9th Inf.) with two clusters, and a Purple Heart.

Once home John obtained various machinist certifications through Triton College, Prosser and Maine West and Esco Institute. Over the years John worked in various jobs mainly as a machinist and die maker at Powers Label, International Harvester, Paymaster Corp. Rebko Industries and the Hines VA Hospital. He worked for several summers for the Chicago Park District cleaning the beaches with the huge tractors. He often listed this as one of his favorite jobs, as it included two of his favorite activities: driving and being by the lake. He then drove buses for the CTA, which eventually led to a job as a CTA machinist, from which he retired in 2014. He talked at great length about his job at the CTA where he enjoyed the group of people he worked with.

John served his country in war, then came home to make the trains run on time.

John’s first marriage to Geraldine McKenna produced his only daughter, Jennifer. He married his second wife, Germaine Schaefer, on June 12th, 1982 and gained 5 stepsons, Frank, Nick, Chris, Charlie and Tony. John remained married to Germaine until her death on October 25th, 2015.

Another huge part of John’s life was the YMCA. He started working out at the New City YMCA in his forties and continued going for 4-6 days a week up until the pandemic hit. He has made many friends though the Y, some of the earliest being Jess and Dianne.

John also loved watching football, spending time with his family, driving any and everywhere, watching various crime shows, eating delicious food and being active.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) in his honor by going to dav.org.

Due to the pandemic, only immediate family will attend the burial in person. The Burial Service & Military Honors will be livestreamed on Saturday, December 19th, at 11am Central time. Please click on the "JOIN LIVESTREAM" link below for the livestream or you can access it though the Drake and Son Funeral Home Facebook page.

A memorial gathering will take place on July 17, 2021 at 11am at Sketchbook Brewing Co, located at 821 Chicago Ave, Evanston IL 60202.