Robert Ernest Schaefer

Robert “Bob” Ernest Schaefer, 83, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. 

Bob was born July 21, 1936, in Nampa, Idaho, to Bill and Mildred Schaefer. He was the middle of three healthy boys. He grew up in Nampa and graduated from Nampa High School in 1954. He enjoyed the Nampa High Class of ’54 reunions and seeing his classmates, having just attended the 65^th reunion in September.

After high school, Bob worked in construction before joining the Air Force in 1957. He was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany. 

Upon his honorable discharge from the military, Bob attended the University of Idaho where he studied architecture. It was during his junior year that he met the love of his life, Betty Seitz. They would marry September 12, 1965. 

Bob’s first job after graduating with a degree in architecture was for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in Dallas, Texas. The first of two children was born here, a son, Robert Ernest Schaefer, Jr. The family was relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii, where a daughter, Christina, was born. After relocating with AAFES back to Dallas, Bob and Betty decided it was time to move back home to Idaho to be with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. 

As an architect, Bob always dreamed of designing and building his own house, so upon his return to Nampa, he did just that.  He continued to work as an architect, starting his own business, Schaefer Associates, Architects and Planners. 

In addition to architecture, Bob found a calling to be a public servant: he was on the Nampa Planning & Zoning Board, Nampa School District, and became an Idaho State Representative in 1984. He found his calling as a lawmaker, enjoying the debate and conversation around law. He was a lawmaker for 28 years, retiring at 76 years of age in 2012.

Bob enjoyed the time he had with his brothers, Bill and Tom. In his spare time, he collected cars and knew an incredible amount of automotive history. He was often between barns: his barns full of Ford cars and parts and his brother, Tom’s barn just down the road, which was full of Chevy parts. 

Bob was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church and carried with him a strong love of God. He spent many Saturdays at church in his earlier years helping maintain the grounds and prepare for service on Sundays. Early in life, he thought he might become a pastor and attended Concordia Seminary in Portland, Oregon, for a semester, but God had a different plan.

Every day he cherished the time he had with his beloved wife, Betty, and thanked God every day for bringing her into his life.

Bob is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Robert Schaefer Jr. of Cascade; daughter, Christina Schaefer of Nampa; grandchildren, Aron, Jared, and Danica Lupton of Nampa, and Philip and Selina Schaefer of Edingen, Germany.

Funeral services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 404 Nectarine St., Nampa, Idaho, on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at 11am. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10^th Ave. South, Nampa, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church or to Mountain States Tumor Institute. A special thank you to everyone’s outpouring of love, prayers, kind words and thoughts in this difficult time. As dad would say, “God bless you.”

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