Milan 'Mike' Schaefer

Milan Herman Schaefer was born on March 24, 1934 to Paul and Louise Schaefer in Herman, Nebraska. He was the second of 4 children. He became a member of God's family through baptism shortly thereafter and was confirmed in the faith after 8th grade. Milan (Mike) helped work the family farm and attended Herman High School where he enjoyed playing basketball and especially baseball. He also worked on the yearbook. Not long after his graduation the Schaefers moved to Golden, Colorado where they ran the Golden Hotel. Soon after moving, Mike enlisted in the Air Force. He served as a weatherman at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany from 1954-1957. A romance that had begun with Thelma Birkholz, a teacher at St. James Lutheran Church and School in Golden, was rekindled after Mike was honorably discharged and moved back to Golden. On July 5, 1959 Thelma and Mike were married. God blessed their marriage in many ways including the gift of two children, Michael and Susan. Mike and Thelma took seriously the responsibility of bringing their children to the Lord in baptism and then nurturing the faith begun in the them with Christian education in the home, church, and school. Upon returning from serving in the military, Mike entered the workforce. After some odd jobs, he found a home working in the sale of machine tools. He worked for Duboc/Lane/ and Moncton and achieved the status of Executive Vice-President there. A move to a new upstart in the business, Shop Tools, found Mike serving as Office Manager until he retired. Mike and Thelma moved from Golden to Denver, and eventually Aurora. They were very active and involved in their church, Christ Our Redeemer. Mike served in various positions on the Church Council and also enjoyed singing in the church choir. In his free time, Mike enjoyed gardening, reading, fishing vacations, spending time with his children and grandchildren, and watching the Weather Channel- you couldn't take the weatherman out of him! During his last years, Mike was stricken with Lewy Body dementia. He and Thelma were able to continue their lives together at the Atria Inn Memory Care Unit and Almost Like Home- a group facility for dementia care in Arvada, CO. On August 27, 2016 the LORD called Milan home to Himself in heaven. His cremated remains will be kept at Ft. Logan National Cemetery to await the LORD""s return on Judgment Day when his soul and glorified body will be rejoined to live forever. Milan was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, his father and mother, and his younger brother Aldon. He is survived by his brother Harold (Marilyn), sister Ruth Ann, children Michael Schaefer (Wendy) and Susan Pieper (Jim), and grandchildren Jessica Conner (Brent), Nicholas Schaefer (Allison), and Chelsea Schaefer. Memorials in Milan's name may be directed to the Building Fund of Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School, 10391 Luther Ct, Commerce City, CO 80022.