Ray (Buzzy) Schaefer, 83, of Adams, Minnesota, died peacefully in his home Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, surrounded by his family.

Ray was born June 18, 1933, in Meyer, Iowa to Matt and Isabelle (Blake) Schaefer. He graduated from Adams High School in 1950 and worked on the family farm. In 1953, he entered the Army serving two years which included a deployment to Germany.

In 1955, he married the love of his life, Jeanette (Rech), at St John’s Catholic Church in Johnsburg. He worked construction in the Adams area for two years. In March 1957, they moved to their farm on the state line where they raised four children. In 2012, they moved to Adams.

Ray was a member of St John’s Catholic Church where he served as Eucharistic minister, lector, usher, trustee, and served on the parish council. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Adams American Legion and was on the board of the Mower County Pork Producers. His fondest memories with friends and relatives include many fun nights at the Terp in Austin. He loved working with his children and grandchildren on their 4-H projects, going to their sporting events, and taking them fishing.

Ray is survived by his wife, Jeanette; sons: Terry (Sue) of Minnetonka; Mark (Laura) of Taopi; daughters: Cheryl (Rocky) Peterson of Winona; and Lisa Thompson of Minneapolis; grandsons: Matt, Jared, Mitchell, Lucas and Paul Schaefer, Chad and Grant Peterson, Joseph Thompson; granddaughters: Nicole Waterman, Amy Bradbury, Kayla Levitt, and Emily Thompson; great grandchildren: Elizabeth and Samuel Schaefer; sibling: Sister Alice Schaefer; sisters-in-law: Marilyn, Florence and Colette Schaefer and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers; Amos, Avery and Robert Schaefer.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Johnsburg, Minnesota, with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery with Adams Post No.146 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at the Adams Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 5 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary and a Prayer Service at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be at the church for one hour before the service on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or to the donor’s choice.