Donald Schaffner Obituary

Donald George Schaffner, age 87, of Clearwater, FL passed away May 14, 2012. Beloved father of David (Meg) and Anne, cherished grandfather of Ashley Martin and Stephen Martin III and loving great-grandfather of Owen Wooley. Preceded in death by his beloved wife Helen, he was happily married 59 years and remained deeply in love. They met on a blind date at the Willowbrook Ballroom. Preceded in death by his dear parents, Clifford and Elizabeth, dear brother, Robert, and dear sister, Donna Whitaker. Mr. Schaffner passed Monday, May 14th of Shy Drager Syndrome at his home in Clearwater FL, having previously lived in Dunedin FL, Seattle WA, Durango CO, Topeka KS, Burlington IA and Downers Grove IL. He was born in DeKalb, IL on January 7, 1925. 23 years as a Boy Scouts of America Executive, Donald traveled the country creating hundreds of Boy Scout Troops, his Forestry degree handy for summers as Camp Director for thousands of boys. Donald's career included work for Clarendon Hills and Oak Street Cemeteries, Fuller Brush and Watkins. A member of St. Matthias Lutheran Church in Clearwater, he volunteered many hours as grounds tender, delivered homemade meals to the sick and sang in the church choir, and was a Dunedin Band Instructor and School Crossing Guard. He was a member of Marriage Encounter, Kiwanis and Gloria Dei church in Downers Grove, IL. Donald always had a twinkle in his eye, a love of Westerns, NFC football and rootbeer floats. He will be forever missed. A Memorial Service for Donald will be held at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 17th at St. Matthias Lutheran Church, 2751 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, FL, 33759, 727-796-2200. Officiating is Rev. William Magee. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Boy Scouts of America or St. Matthias Lutheran Church would be appreciated.