James Michael Schaefer

Jim Schaefer was born on November 29, 1944 in Buffalo, NY and passed away Monday March 24, 2008 at age 63 in a Los Angeles hospital. Jim was the youngest of 6 children raised in Cheektowaga, NY and then later moved to Southern California.

He worked as a pipe fitter for Mobil oil in Buffalo prior to relocating to Los Angeles in 1981. Shortly after moving to L.A. Jim worked at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo California, before taking an early retirement to run a family business called "U-FIX-IT", a self serve car fix-it shop. Following this Jim was the on-site manager of Imperial Carson Mobil Estates in Carson, CA for about 14 years before he had to step down due to health reasons. Jim remained very active in his community as a California Democratic Party Central Committee Member, he was 2007 "Democrat Of the Year", L.A. County Sheriffs Dept Block Captain, and he served as an appointed city official of the City of Carson as a member of the Relocation Appeals Board. He was also a member of the NAACP and several South Bay democratic clubs. As busy as he was, he made it a point to make every single one of his grandchildren's football, basketball and baseball games.

Jim was a "Jack of all Trades - and Master of all" If it was broke - he could fix it. An avid boater and fisherman, he enjoyed cruising with family in the harbor or taking fishing trips to Catalina Island. In Dec 2006, Jim and Jan's boat "Jimmy's Buoy IV" took a prize in the annual Holiday Parade in Long Beach CA. He also loved to dress up as Santa Claus at Christmas and put smiles on all children's faces, young and old.

Jim met his wife Jan Schaefer in 1979; both had children from previous marriages, which they successfully blended into a close-knit family, something that Jim was extremely proud of. Family was the most important thing to him. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Jan, daughters: Kim McCoy (Kevin), Jill Zachowicz (John), and son James Schaefer Jr. (Rhonda). Stepchildren: John Reger, Jane Knaus (Jeff) and Karl Reger (deceased). Grandchildren: Ryan, Kaitlin, and Conner McCoy; Bradley and Madison Ames, Eliza Zachowicz, Alex, Tyler and Rebekah Schaefer, Kristen and Craig Knaus. Brothers: Charles (Dorothy), Harold (Sophie-deceased), Alvin (Muriel), Norman Schaefer (Marlene), and sister Lois Zawacki (Stanley both deceased). Nieces and Nephews: David, Judith, Dixie, Harold Jr., Peggy, Barbara, Linda, Debra, Diane, Susan, and Sandy. A husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and a friend…Jim will be loved and missed by all…for his love of life, love of family, his generosity, and mostly his big smile and BIGGER sense of humor – we will deeply miss your presence in our lives.

Memorial services will be held at 9:30 am on Friday, March 28th at the Rice Mortuary in Torrance. In lieu of flowers please make donations to: National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York 10016. (800-622-9010) [www.kidney.org] or the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116. [www.diabetes.org].

Following the services all are welcomed to a luncheon gathering to be held at the Imperial Mobile Estates Club House,

21111 Dolores St., Carson, CA, 90745.