Mass of Christian Burial for Clem Schaefer age 96 of Valentine will be held on Friday, Oct. 25 ^th at 10:00 AM at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine.  Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine.  Rosary will be recited on Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Church.  Register book signing will be on Thursday starting at 11:00 AM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine.

Clement Eugene Schaefer was the second son born to Ted and Kathryn (Howe) Schaefer at their home in the Hidden Timber, SD area on September 19, 1923. His siblings were Don, Lynn, Raymond, Eileen (Elliott), and Ruthie (Ferris). He attended Kewanee, NE, and Littleburg, SD schools. For his senior year of high school, his grandparents Howe adopted Clem and his brother Don so they could attend, and then graduate from, Valentine High School.

He worked for Levi Lower at the White Eagle Mobil Station in Valentine. On January 3, 1942, he met Isabel Canet in front of the beauty shop that she and her sister operated. In December 1944 they became engaged.

In April of 1945 he volunteered for military service and requested to join the Navy. He joined fellow Valentine men who traveled by train to Omaha and then the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, IL. Upon completion of basic training, his company was sent to California where he was assigned to the oil tanker USS Monongahela. His ship participated in the occupation of Japan and operations in China, giving support to the Pacific Fleet ships and stations. Clem was discharged in 1946. All four of the Schaefer brothers (Don, Clem, Lynn, and Raymond) served in the military during WWII and the Korean Conflict.

Baseball was the favorite activity of the Schaefer family. Ted coached teams the boys played for in the Littleburg and Hidden Timber areas, including the Olsonville Team in 1939-1940. All of the families enjoyed attending the Valentine Hearts baseball team games, with the cousins having their own fun in the outfield. The love of baseball remained with Clem, as his primary past time at Oakwood Assisted Living was watching games on television.

Clem and Isabel were married July 2, 1947, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine. They lived in Valentine all their lives. Clem worked at the Legion Club in Valentine and eventually purchased the White Eagle Mobil Station. He later purchased the Hiway Mobil in Valentine. He sold the station with the intention of retiring, but then served as Clerk of the District Court from 1975 to 1987. Clem and Isabel were also in the cattle business during this time. Clem enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially pheasant hunting with friends.

Clem and Isabel were parents to four children, Betty, Ken, Shirley and Janice. Family adventures included camping with friends on the Niobrara River south of Sparks, fishing and camping at Merritt Reservoir, and outings to the land they owned along the Niobrara River. They also enjoyed summer trips to the Black Hills. With 13 Canet cousins and 27 Schaefer cousins, family gatherings were special times. In later years, Clem and Isabel traveled south to warmer climates in their motor home. For 25 years, their family has enjoyed an autumn weekend together at Mahoney State Park.

His second family became the staff at Oakwood Assisted Living where he made his home for the last 7 1/2years. Visits there always ended with a hug and kiss from him and his sweet "I love you, good night, and thanks for coming." It was there that this gentle man was blessed with a gentle ending to his life's journey.

He is survived by his sister, Ruthie Ferris, and brother Lynn (Darlene) Schaefer and children Betty (Roger) Quick, Ken (Paula) Schaefer, Shirley (Ron) Knudsen, and Janice (Steve) Satra and Cindy Schaefer. His eight grandchildren, Todd Schaefer, Amy Ramsey, Aaron Quick, Natalie Lien, Bethany Knudsen, Kelsey Wilder, Krista Satra, and Shanna Satra and ten great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family circle that were the center of Clem's life. Greeting him in heaven on October 20, 2019 were his parents, Ted and Kathryn, wife, Isabel, sister, Eileen Elliott, and brothers, Don and Raymond.

Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with arrangements. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Oct. 25 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Burial was at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Sandhills Cancer Fund, 428 E. 8th St., Ainsworth, NE, 69210.