Russell C. Schaefer, 93, of Dover, VT passed away on Friday, February 08, 2013 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townsend, VT. He was born in Winsor, CT on August 8, 1919, the son of the late William and Helen (Terwilliger) Schaefer.
Mr. Schaefer served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was stationed on the Aleutian Islands when they were attacked by the Japanese. Russ received naval commendation for his work on building a dock in Alaska's Babcock Bay, where he worked ship to shore. He was a gun captain on the USS Duluth that cleared the mines in Tokyo Bay for General McArthur to sign the peace treaty with Japan. Mr. Schaefer was self-employed as a plumbing & heating contractor. He enjoyed hunting, fishing in Long Island Sound, ballroom dancing, and was a member of the American Legion, the VFW in Brattleboro, and the Masons in CT. In 2000, Russ and his wife Irene built a cabin and relocated to Brattleboro.
Russ is predeceased by his first wife, Anna (Kozon) Schaefer; a daughter, Linda Schaefer; three brothers, William, Roy and Ralph Schaefer, and a sister, Marsha Schaefer.
He is survived by his wife, Irene (Lanou) Schaefer; a son, Declan Schaefer and his family of Pittsfield, MA; three daughters, Honore Davis and family of Las Vegas, NV, Judith Ann Larocque and family of North Gramby, CT, and Patricia Mary Schaefer of Gramby, CT; a nephew, Ralph Schaefer and family of Ellenton, FL; six step children, George Dolloph and family of Chester, VT, Deborah Rose Wolf and family of Craftsbury Common, VT, Julia Buffum and family of Springfield, VT, Fred Bussino and family of Alexandria, NH, Melinda Bussino and family of Rockingham, VT, and William Bussino and family of Wethersfield, VT.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 7 PM to 9 PM at Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home, 57 High Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301. A service will be celebrated in the funeral home at 8 PM. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Windsor, CT in spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Russell's name to the American Legion, 32 Linden St. Brattleboro, VT 05301.