Corporal/Detective Henry Joseph Leroy “Hank” Schafer, Jr. (1932-2023)

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Hank was born October 12, 1932 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Henry Leroy and Mildred (Messiah) Schafer. He graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1949.

He joined the United States Army on February 1, 1950. He was assigned as a Jumpmaster Paratrooper during the Korean War. Sergeant Schafer was honorably discharged on April 8, 1953.

After the war, Hank worked as a chemical operator for thirteen years at the National Lead Company, the United States nuclear fuel processing plant at Fernald. He also joined the Harrison Volunteer Fire Department in 1958 and served as such to 1975.

 Hank joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office as a Patrolman on October 13, 1966 and attended Ohio Peace Officer Training during October and November at the Norwood Police Academy. He also became a charter member of Fraternal Order of Police, Southwestern Hamilton County Lodge #113. In his first couple of years, he patrolled Colerain Township. He was assigned to investigative services in 1969 and promoted to Detective on March 3, 1970. Patrolman Schafer retired July 1, 1997 with almost 31 years of service to Hamilton County and numerous letters of appreciation and/or commendation.

Detective Schafer then joined the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff. In all, he served the country and two counties well in excess of five decades.

He continued as a member of Lodge #113 for 55 years. He was also a life member of the American Legion Post 199 and a member of the Snow Lodge Post 193.

Deputy Schafer died on May 27, 2023 at the age of 90.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Nicole Schafer, and sister, June Collins. Deputy Schafer is survived by his wife of 31 years, Bennie R. (Noes) Schafer; children, Mark (Karen) Schafer, Lori Riede, Margo (Chris) Bennett, Rusty Schafer; stepchildren, Timothy (Lori) Wright and Allan (Kimberley) Wright; fifteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and siblings, Sandra (Tom) DiMaggio and Deborah Schafer.

Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Dearborn Hills United Methodist Church at 25365 Stateline Road. An FOP service will be held at 1 p.m. A funeral service will follow presided over by Reverends Scott Stephans and Bob Land. The service will be followed by Military Honors. Burial will follow at New Haven Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Fraternal Order of Police.

 

© 2023 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

 

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