Harold L. Schaffer

Harold L. Schaffer

COZAD -- Harold L. Schaffer, 82, died Friday (Dec. 7, 2001) at Cozad.

He was born Jan. 8, 1919, at Mobridge, S.D., to Jacob and Ida (Miller) Schaffer. He attended schools in South Dakota, Kansas and North Platte.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

While living in North Platte, he worked at the Hinman Oil Co. as manager of the Friendly Inn, and then managed a station for the Davis Oil Co. He later leased and managed the Log Cabin station and then the Frontier Station. He operated Harold's Lounge before serving as manager of the Moose Lodge. In the early 1970s he moved to McCook.

On Oct. 5, 1973, he married Lillian "Lil" Johnson. They operated a cafe in Culbertson. He returned to McCook where he managed the Eagle's Lodge until his retirement. In 1987 they moved to Gothenburg. He had made his home at Cozad following his wife's death in 1997.

He was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Gothenburg, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Moose, Eagles and Elks Lodges.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lil; and one sister, Lucille Beans.

Survivors include one son, Rick Schaffer and wife, Colleen of George, Washington; one daughter, Deanna Hyde and husband, Gene of Prescott, Ariz.; two step-sons, Alfred Johnson of Merced, Calif., and Dale Johnson and wife, Patti of Ashland; one sister, Phyllis Beckius and husband, Jim of North Platte; three brothers, Bill and wife, Mabel of North Platte, Bob and wife, Mary of Grand Island, and Ronald and wife, Jenny of Montclair, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte with the Rev. Steve Berke officiating. Interment will be at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell with military honors.

Visitation is today until 7 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad, and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte.

Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad is in charge of the arrangements.