Randall "Randy" Earl Schafer

Randall "Randy" Earl Schafer was born on March 24, 1960, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and passed away on December 28, 2024, surrounded by his family and cat “Boots”. His parents, Darrel and Rita, named him after the USS General George Randall, which his father served on during the Korean War.

Randy was the beloved husband of Jennifer Brenke, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage after their wedding on October 11, 1980. Together, they built a family filled with love and cherished memories. Randy was the proud father of his four daughters: Stephanie, Alexis, Lindsay, and Danielle. He always told everyone how much he loved his "girls", affectionately referring to his wife and daughters.

He was baptized and confirmed at a young age. Argil and Berna Renzelman were his Godparents. He was raised in Colorado, and loved spending time with the Renzelman family at the farm in Wray, when he was growing up, and was always willing and desirous of helping Argil and Doug with harvest and the cattle. He was active in 4-H growing up and loved to tell stories about activities he and his dad participated in together, including a camping trip where they slept in sleeping bags and woke up to snow on their sleeping bags. From an early age, he went on many camping trips with his parents, sister and extended family. He was active in leathercrafting, lettered in wrestling (at least twice), participated in Boy Scouts and the church youth group. Randy loved hunting and fishing, even as a young man. He graduated from Woodland Park High School in 1978. He did enlist in the Navy out of high school and attended bootcamp for a short time before he was medically discharged.

Randy and Jennifer lived with their daughters in Colorado and Kansas, before settling in Nebraska in 1992. There, Randy attended Western Nebraska Community College where he obtained his Associates Degree in Accounting in 1995, and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. Randy took up photography during college and was the senior photographer for some of his children and family members. He enjoyed taking pictures at WNCC Cougar basketball games, the outdoors, his cats and the most random things you could think of. Randy started in the grocery business during high school at Circle Supers in Woodland Park and later at Wray Super Foods in Wray where he met the most beautiful redhead he ever knew. Though he got out of the retail and grocery business for a period of time, he returned to it after graduating from WNCC. He worked at Econo Foods/U-Save grocery store until he could no longer work regularly. He managed the produce department there was committed to providing his customers the freshest produce. He also worked at McCosh Drug in their photography department. He was lucky enough to be able to travel and work with Dan Fonte for a period of time and always shared stories about his travels with Dan.

Throughout his life, Randy enjoyed CSU football, having attended many games with his father, Broncos football, his cats, fishing, watching Nascar races, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and being with his family. He participated in Stephen Ministries, the Red Cross/Lutheran World Relief and the Orphan Grain Train. Randy and Jennifer enjoyed traveling, including a couple of cruises, one to Alaska, which he'd always wanted to do, an anniversary trip to Mexico, multiple trips throughout the United States, and a number of trips to Kansas Speedway where he got to watch, and once meet, his favorite driver Joey Logano. His daughters also were able to share trips with him to Disneyland, South Dakota, Las Vegas, and Seattle; and his grandkids traveled with him to Kansas Speedway, and additional trips to Montana, Utah, and multiple U.S. National Parks.

Before health reasons prevented him from enjoying it, he loved taking his kids and grandkids fishing and ice fishing.

Randy was always stubborn. He was mischievous and had a wildly inappropriate sense of humor. He always spoke his mind. Until the very end, he always did things on his timeline and when and how he wanted. He was a guardian and protector for Jennifer and his girls and was proud of them for being able to stand up for themselves. He always did everything he had the ability to do to support his daughters and to help propel them to better things. His daughters inherited the best of him.

He is survived, deeply loved, and will forever be missed by wife, Jennifer Schafer; daughters Stephanie Schafer (Lanny), Alexis Moore (Shane), Lindsay Schroeder (John), Danielle Madden (Jeremy); fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Pam Bessey (Bert); father-in-law John Yost; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Sandy Lewis, Scott Brenke, Kathy Kerchal, Clayton Brenke, Sean Brenke, Raylene Gies, and Raymond Yost; along with numerous friends, cousins and nephews and nieces who held him dear.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents Darrel and Rita Schafer and his mother-in-law Doretta Yost.

Randy’s life was defined by his devotion to family and the joy he found in being surrounded by those he loved most. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. May his legacy bring comfort to those who mourn his passing.

Funeral services will take place on Friday, January 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff. A graveside service will follow at the Westlawn Cemetery in Gering. Hors d'oeuvres, desserts and refreshments will be provided at the church following the graveside service. Memorials may be given to the family to be designated at a later date. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com. Dugan Kramer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.