George Richard Schaefer, 81

George Richard Schaefer lost his battle to cancer and went to the Lord on Jan. 8, 2016. He was born Feb. 22, 1934, in San Rafael, Calif.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother; wife Marjorie Ruth; his son, Robert; two grandsons and one granddaughter. He has 16 grandkids and four great-grandkids.

George served in the United States Navy from June 18, 1952, to June 18, 1956. He was honorably discharged. While in the Navy, he was a boiler operator graciously known as (Snipe). He was a plank owner on the USS Mitscher DL-2.

Upon discharge from the Navy, George worked as a fireman and in road construction. He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He retired in 2000 and he and wife Marjorie moved to North Idaho in 2006.

George enjoyed hunting and was an avid collector of World War II vintage military vehicles. His 1941 Dodge Ambulance and 1941 Jeep were in many parades on the Fourth of July in Coeur d’Alene.

George spoke with pleasure about attending the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, where he and wife Marjorie were able to drive the ambulance on Omaha Beach.

A memorial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Hayden Bible Church, 290 East Miles Ave., Hayden. A luncheon will follow the service at the same location.