Gerald "Jerry" Anthony Schafer, age 83, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Monday, April 25, 2016 at the Woodland Hospice House.

Funeral Mass for Jerry will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, April 28, at 12 noon with Fr. Loren Kalinowski and Fr. Thomas McNamara officiating. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Beal City. A Luncheon will follow at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall following the Committal Service. The family will receive friends at Clark Family Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 from 6 to 9 p.m. with a Vigil for Jerry at 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church the day of the service from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pardee Cancer Treatment Fund or Woodland Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Jerry was born on September 24, 1932 at home in Beal City, the son of Anthony and Matilda (Pung) Schafer. He married Bethel Berg on September 15, 1951 at Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Pleasant. As a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jerry left a legacy of music. Jerry owned and operated Schafer Music from 1971 until his retirement in 1995. Many have danced and enjoyed his music from the Pleasant Valley Trio, the Jacks and Jills, the Slave Driver Band, and his one man band. He enjoyed playing music with many community groups at the Commission on Aging, First Church of the Nazarene, Medical Care Facility, and Winchester Towers. Jerry wrote and recorded many songs, of those he was most proud was the Slave Driver, Lonely Trucker, After 30 Years, and Amanda Lynn. He was always happy to perform and always had his book and guitar with him. He was inducted into the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997.

Jerry was a man of faith. He was parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and had been a eucharistic minister and member of the choir.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bethel; children, Dan (Pam) Schafer of Nashville, TN, Mark (Alicia) Schafer of New Bern, NC, Jeff Schafer of Mt. Pleasant, Chris Schafer of Nashville, TN, Russ (Cathy) Schafer of St. Johns, Lori (David) Moscardelli of Mt. Pleasant, and Shelley (Mark) Campbell of Mt. Pleasant; 25 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen Marie; parents; brothers, Ed, Oscar, Walter, and Bob; sisters, Ann and Ruth; and many beloved friends and relatives.

The family is very grateful to Morey Cancer Center's staff, Woodland Hospice, Commission on Aging, Pardee Cancer Fund, Fr. Tom MacNamara, Fr. Loren Kalinowski, and Fr. Fred Kawka for their prayers and support.

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