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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Virgil Schaffer
Virgil
Schaffer
January 19, 1921 – January 9, 2012
Virgil Schaffer's Obituary
Virgil Schaffer, 90, a most kind and gentle man died peacefully at St. Luke's Living Center East in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 9, 2012.
Virgil was born Jan. 19, 1921, in LaGrange, Mo., to Virgil and Dorothy Schaffer. He showed a passion for radio at an early age and even built several of his own. He graduated from LaGrange High School in 1939 and then attended Midland Radio School in Kansas City. Initially he was employed by N.W. Airlines in Minneapolis as a flight radio officer and worked under contract for for the military during World War II before joining the Marine Corps in January 1944. While in the Marines, he was a flight radio operator, mechanic and instructor, holding the rank of corporal, serving on C47 cargo aircraft throughout the Pacific Theatre. After the war he returned to N.W. Airlines as a flight radio officer and was aboard the first survey flight to inaugurate civilian passenger service to China.
As radio technology advanced, flight radio operators were no longer needed, however, Virgil's passion for radio was still strong. He left North West Airlines and moved to Cedar Rapids, where he joined Collins Radio as a test technician and later a production line foreman. While working at Collins, Virgil met and married Jitka Hajek in 1951, retired from Collins in 1974 and was a partner in the Czech Cottage Gift Shop along with his wife, Jitka, and son, Robert, from 1975 until his passing.
He was a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator (W0FBH) his entire adult life as well as a member of MARS (military affiliate radio service).
Virgil is suvived by his wife, Jitka; son, Robert; sister, Pat Gaines; brother, Ed Schaffer (Mary); grandson, Jason Schaffer; granddaughter, Wendy Schaffer; great-granddaughter, Ryleah Dunlap; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Martha Jane Brownlee; brother, Fred Schaffer; son, Steven Schaffer; daughter-in-law, Jean Schaffer; and daughter-in-law, Julia Schaffer.
Memorials should be directed to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Respecting Virgil's wishes, there will be no services.
Virgil was born Jan. 19, 1921, in LaGrange, Mo., to Virgil and Dorothy Schaffer. He showed a passion for radio at an early age and even built several of his own. He graduated from LaGrange High School in 1939 and then attended Midland Radio School in Kansas City. Initially he was employed by N.W. Airlines in Minneapolis as a flight radio officer and worked under contract for for the military during World War II before joining the Marine Corps in January 1944. While in the Marines, he was a flight radio operator, mechanic and instructor, holding the rank of corporal, serving on C47 cargo aircraft throughout the Pacific Theatre. After the war he returned to N.W. Airlines as a flight radio officer and was aboard the first survey flight to inaugurate civilian passenger service to China.
As radio technology advanced, flight radio operators were no longer needed, however, Virgil's passion for radio was still strong. He left North West Airlines and moved to Cedar Rapids, where he joined Collins Radio as a test technician and later a production line foreman. While working at Collins, Virgil met and married Jitka Hajek in 1951, retired from Collins in 1974 and was a partner in the Czech Cottage Gift Shop along with his wife, Jitka, and son, Robert, from 1975 until his passing.
He was a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator (W0FBH) his entire adult life as well as a member of MARS (military affiliate radio service).
Virgil is suvived by his wife, Jitka; son, Robert; sister, Pat Gaines; brother, Ed Schaffer (Mary); grandson, Jason Schaffer; granddaughter, Wendy Schaffer; great-granddaughter, Ryleah Dunlap; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Martha Jane Brownlee; brother, Fred Schaffer; son, Steven Schaffer; daughter-in-law, Jean Schaffer; and daughter-in-law, Julia Schaffer.
Memorials should be directed to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Respecting Virgil's wishes, there will be no services.
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