DIETER SCHAFER

DIETER SCHAFER, died peacefully on May 17 in Heidehof Home for the Aged.Dieter came to Canada in 1958, and quickly established a masonry business, first in Sudbury, and moved it to St. Catharines in 1964. His business grew quickly and by the early 70’s he had several crews of mostly German and Italian immigrants. Many of the buildings, both single family homes and commercial places, are seen in the Niagara Peninsula, such as the original Niagara Credit Union buildings in Vineland, Virgil, Lake Street. Ironically, the masonry work on the original Heidehof was also done through his business, and he spent the last eight months there before a dreaded disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy claimed him.We would like to thank Dr. O’Reilly at Heidehof, the amazing staff both in nursing, but also in the kitchen at Heidehof. The work they do to help our loved ones cannot be praised enough. The kitchen staff does their best to provide nutritional meals with the meager sum that is allotted by the Ministry for nutrition for the elderly. The PSWs on C2 made Dieter smile many times and showed their love not only for him but all the residents.We would also like to thank the re-hab staff at the Shaver Hospital who tried so hard to help Dieter regained some of his strength and balance. Thank you all from the bottom of our broken hearts.Dieter is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lore, sons Michael and Danny, daughters-in-law Amy and Lisa, sisters Edelgard and Annalie, brothers Karl-Heinz and Waldemar, their spouses and nieces and nephews. Sadly he is predeceased because of a terrible plane crash by daughter Cindy and son-in-law Bruce Haskitt.Memorial donations to Heidehof Home for the Aged would be appreciated by the family. Cremation has taken place, a private family service to take place at a later date.