Howard R. Schaper, age 85, of Tomahawk, died Thursday, August 18, 2011, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, after a 4 1/2 year battle with cancer.
Howard was born November 29, 1925, son of the late Oscar and Erma (Nutting) Schaper. He married Carol Holt on April 2, 1949, in Butternut, WI. She preceded him in death on January 7, 1986. He then married Virginia ‘Ginny’ Vogel on August 30, 1986, in Merrill. She survives. Howard was a veteran of the United States Air Force having served at the end of World War II. He served as a photographer and mechanic in the Pacific Theatre and mapped out various islands. Howard was a diesel mechanic at John Hennes Trucking, Milwaukee. He retired in 1986. In 1987, he and Ginny moved to Tomahawk, where he built their home. Howard was a member of the Eagle’s Club, the American Legion, and he was a life member of the N.R.A. Howard belonged to Teamsters Local 200 in Milwaukee. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed his fishing trips to Minnesota and his trips out to Wyoming with his children and friends. Howard enjoyed watching the Milwaukee Brewers, and he greatly enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl in 2011. Howard was an avid bowler and bowled in many leagues in Merrill. He was among the first men in Milwaukee to hit an ‘800 Series’. Howard was a member of the Merrill Bowling Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia ‘Ginny’ Schaper, of Tomahawk; two daughters, Teri Schaper, of Milwaukee, and Julie (Denis) Gerspach, of Jackson, WI; five sons, Curt Schaper, Scott Schaper, Todd (Kathy) Schaper, and Kevin (Lauren) Schaper, all of Tomahawk, and Chris (Barbara) Schaper, of Charlotte, NC; one step-daughter, Merle (Jerry Graebel) Moat, of Merrill; one step-son, Timothy (Pam) Moat, of Merrill; several other step-children out of the area; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Leone Woller, of Merrill, and Pat Renner, of Milwaukee; two brothers, Neil (Nita) Schaper, of Dousman, WI, and Daryl (Joanne) Schaper, of Ely, MN; and several nieces and nephews. Howard was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Richard Schaper.
A memorial service will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, August 21, 2011, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. Pastor Missy Holdorf will officiate. Visitation will begin at 4:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank the staff of Aspirus Wausau Hospital for the care they gave Howard over the last four years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Merrill Relay for Life.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com