William T. "Bill" Schaefer (79) of Effingham

William Thomas “Bill” Schaefer, age 79, of Effingham, passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 5:30 pm peacefully in his beloved home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham with private interment in the columbarium at St. Francis Cemetery in Teutopolis. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am to 10:30 am Wednesday at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Effingham Public Library.

Bill was born on August 26, 1943, in Yonkers, New York, the only child of Anna C. (Leving) and William Francis Schaefer. He married Karen Lynn Boggs (Tarrant) on July 14, 1996, in Effingham.

Bill was the co-owner of Treehouse and Treehouse, Too Day Care Centers. He worked many interesting jobs, such as, a Quality Control manager for Consumer Report magazine, a landscaper, an airplane pilot, and a teacher. He did one tour in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Marine.

Bill enjoyed traveling the world with his wife on cruise ships and car road trips. He had a passion for history, reading, watching British movies, and collecting antiques and authentic paintings.

Bill is survived by his step-children, Charity (Troy) Ozenkoski of Teutopolis and Jesse Boggs of Effingham; 6 grandchildren, Seth Russell, Kaleb Boggs, Madison Boggs, Brooke Ozenkoski, Lauren Ozenkoski, and Derek Ozenkoski; great-grandchild, Emery Finfrock.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, rescue dog named Sam and his beloved wife.