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Thomas M. Schaffner, 76

Thomas M. Schaffner, 76, passed away May 20, 2019 in Seattle.

Tom was born March 3, 1943, to Fred Schaffner and Veronica Healy Schaffner in Port Orchard, Wash.

He attended St. Thomas Catholic Church and grade school. He graduated from IHM Academy in 1961. He married Sharon Moser April 24, 1965 at St. Thomas Church.

Tom had many jobs. He set pins in a bowling alley, worked underground at a Bunker Hill zinc mine, worked in the shipping department at Boeing and even took a summer when his kids were grown as a cook in a fish camp in Big Creek, Alaska. But Tom was always a grocery man, starting as a young boy and working his way to managing stores in Eastern Washington and Sitka, Alaska. His pride and joy was the family grocery store he owned and operated with Sharon and his three children.

He was well known, involved in the community and always had a joke and a smile. He belonged to the Warden, Wash., Jaycees and the Othello Rotary Club. Tom was the essence of a family man. Their three children Jeff, Greta, and Justin were the focus of work, play, community life and adventure

Tom and Sharon celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2015. They most recently lived in a retirement community in West Seattle. No longer able to dance, they sang at karaoke night and played pinochle. They never stopped being involved in whatever community they found themselves.

Tom is survived by his wife; sons Jeff, Tacoma, Wash., and Justin, Kenai, Alaska; a daughter, Greta Chehrehgosha, Sultan, Wash.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; brothers Ed, Coeur d’Alene; Bob, Post Falls, and Fred, Bellevue, Wash., and a sister, Rosie Moulden, Lewiston; along with numerous nieces and nephews and special extended family member Katie Schaffner. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Carol Gallagher.

A memorial celebration of life is 1 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Burien Community Center, Burien, Wash. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Coeur d’Alene.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Seattle; or Catholic Community Services/Adoption and Foster Care Services, Seattle.