Theodore H. Schaefer, Jr.

YORK - Theodore "Ted" H. Schaefer, Jr. 91, passed away Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at York Hospital surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Suzanne R. (Menter) Schaefer to whom he was married for 64 years. 

Funeral services are to be held at a later date. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., York, is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Born November 21, 1932 in Baltimore, MD, he was a son of the late Theodore H. Sr. and Sylvia L. (Goeppner) Schaefer. 

He was a 1951 graduate of McDonogh School, McDonogh, MD and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves while he was still in high school. 

Ted received a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Maryland in 1956. After completing college, he served two years active duty in the U.S. Navy. He returned to civilian life in 1959 and joined the National Park Service, National Capital Region. 

Mr. Schaefer spent his career working for various park and recreation departments that included Maryland Department of Forests and Parks, Annapolis, MD; Toledo Metropolitan Park District, Toledo, OH; Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation, Binghamton, NY; and Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County and Rockville, MD. While in Broome County, he attended SUNY Cortland and received an M.S. in Recreation Education in 1973. 

He joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1979 and worked in the Operations Division, Baltimore, MD as a Park/Recreation Planner. In 1985 he transferred to the Omaha (Nebraska) District to head the Park/Recreation branch overseeing park and recreation projects at Corps of Engineer lakes in the Upper Missouri River Basin. 

Mr. Schaefer retired in 2000 after 40 years of public service. In 2003 he and his wife, Suzanne settled in York County. In 2005 he started a park and recreation consulting business. He had an opportunity to volunteer on a number of church committees; the Wyntrebrooke Homeowner's Association Board; Penn State Master Gardeners; and S.C.O.R.E. in Omaha, PA and York County Area Agency on Aging. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and the York Art Association where he enjoyed painting water-color landscapes and seascapes. 

Surviving him are his two children Stephanie Schaefer (Jeffrey Culton) and Timothy Schaefer (Laura); and grandchildren Gretta and Emma Schaefer. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 West Market St., York, PA 17401. 

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