George Schaefer

A Mass in celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday April 13, 2013 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Peoria. A visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday April 12, 2013 at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Burial will follow the service at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria.

George was born in Covington, Kentucky on June 13, 1928, son of George and Marie (Sandheger) Schaefer. After the family relocated to St Louis, Missouri, he attended St. Louis University High School, and later graduated from St. Louis University in 1951.

He married Barbara (Quick) on August 11, 1951. He and Barbara have enjoyed more than 61 years of marriage.

He is survived by his wife; a son Mark (Jennifer) Schaefer of Chesterfield Missouri; a daughter, Sharon Mandli of Jupiter Florida; six grandchildren, Gabrielle and (James) Naus, Catherine Schaefer and husband David Records, Barbara Schaefer, Michelle Mandli, Christopher Mandli, and Jackson Mandli. He is also survived by a brother Robert (Nancy) Schaefer of Reno Nevada.

His parents both preceded him in death as did a sister, Jo Ann Morris and a brother William.

George enjoyed golf and his beloved baseball Cardinals, and was a member of St Jude Catholic Church, and before that St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kickapoo Illinois.

At Caterpillar, George began his career in Peoria as a trainee and in the corporate audit department in 1951, until he was transferred to the San Leandro California plant in 1956, and later named there as chief accountant. In 1962, he moved to Grenoble, France where he was the finance and accounting manager. In 1968 George returned to Peoria as a corporate accounting division manager. In 1973, he became general manager of the Caterpillar Decatur Illinois plant. In 1976 he was named a vice president, and an executive vice president in 1981, a director in 1983, vice chairman in 1984, and became chairman and chief executive officer in 1985. He retired from Caterpillar in 1990.

George was active in many Peoria area civic and charitable organizations. He was a Trustee at Bradley University, and served on the board of Proctor Hospital. He also served on corporate boards at First Chicago Bank, Helmerich and Payne, McDonnell Douglas, AON, and Morton International.

Above all, he was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Children's Hospital of Illinois at Peoria or to the St. Jude Catholic Church School Building fund. Please visit George's story at www.woolsey-wilton.com

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