Carl Schaffer

Carl Schaffer was born May 29, 1923 in Pingree, Idaho to Carl & Mathilda Schaffer. They moved west when he was young and settled in Ridgefield. When he was 14, his mother died and his father remarried a year later. Carl graduated from Vancouver High School and enlisted in the Navy, serving in WW2. He was a turret gunner on a PV-1 Ventura and had quite the adventure of surviving a sea landing and being MIA for a month in the South Pacific. (Go to PacificWrecks.com and type his name into the search bar for the story and photos of the crew.) When he returned from overseas, his aunt set him up on a blind date with a young lady in San Francisco. It was instant attraction and they were married 3 months later. Daughter, Elaine, was born nearly a year later in 1945. Son, Bob, was welcomed in 1946. During this time they moved up to the Pacific Northwest. Carl was stationed at Tillamook, decommissioning planes from the war. Several years passed and daughter, Barbara, was born into the family in 1952. Daughter, Shirley, was born in 1956. Dad worked with his hands, building the family home; digging out the basement with pick ax and shovel. The family moved into the daylight basement in 1960 and dad started building the upstairs - another 3 bedroom home. After the Columbus Day storm in 1962, the family moved upstairs. The basement housed lots of family through the years. As a carpenter, Carl was known for his finishing skills. He had a big shop, a greenhouse and the prettiest yard in the neighborhood. He loved working in his garden. Carl and Elaine enjoyed going to the beach and traveled to Alaska a few times to visit family. He took care of Elaine for many years when her health was affected by MS until she passed in 2009. Carl loved the Lord Jesus most of all. A 1950 Billy Graham Crusade in Portland was the turning point for his life. He brought Elaine to the crusade the next night and she also believed in Christ. Their spiritual journey was an example to their children and grandchildren on what faith is all about. Carl passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Friday, August 31, 2018. There's no doubt that there was quite a welcoming committee waiting for him. Children: Elaine (Steve-deceased) Campbell, Robert Schaffer, Barbara (Doug) Gross, Shirley (Cary) Henrichsen. Carl had 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. Please join his children and their families to celebrate Carl's life on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church, 11208 NE Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver, WA.

Carl Schaffer

May 29, 1923 - August 31, 2018