Michael John Schaefer was born Dec. 6, 1959, in Seward, to John and Joan (Rezac) Schaefer, and passed away March 1, 2024, in Lincoln, at the age of 64 years, 2 months, and 24 days.
Mike was confirmed at the United Presbyterian Church in Seward. He attended Seward Public School and graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1978. After graduation, Mike attended Southeast Community College in Milford, where he studied refrigeration, heating and cooling. He worked for The Garbage Company in Seward for many years, was co-owner of a restaurant in Seward and worked part-time for Owens Family Farms in Seward.
Mike loved basketball, long distance running, car races and the great outdoors. He began running competitively after graduation from high school, winning many races, as can be seen by the many trophies and medals he acquired. Mike never ran track or cross-country in high school. After winning so many local long-distance races, the Seward High School cross-country and track coach, at the time, mentioned to a family member that “he sure wished Mike would have come out for track in high school.”
Mike enjoyed many outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and vegetable gardening. He enjoyed traveling and was an avid weather watcher. Mike’s father had a nickname for each of his children, and his nickname for Mike was “Pootnock.” Mike’s friends from school knew Mike better as “LJ.” A family member once asked one of his friends, “why do you call him “LJ?” It was a simple answer, they replied, Brian Lukert, their friend who is a bigger guy and could really eat a lot. Mike, being a little guy, could eat just as much as Brian. That’s when Mike’s friends deemed him “Lukert Junior,” or “LJ” for short. Mike loved being with his nieces and nephews as they were growing up. He most recently was able to enjoy time with one of his great-nieces, spending countless hours watching ball games, track meets and 4-H Livestock and horse shows.
Mike moved to Deshler in the Spring of 2019, and began working for his niece and nephew at Farnstrom Farms in Hebron. He always enjoyed taking drives down the Thayer County country roads, checking the crops in the fields. He hauled countless loads of grain to area elevators, where he prided himself in being a careful, meticulous truck driver. Mike had a special place in his heart for animals. He enjoyed helping care for his great-niece’s horses. He greeted the farm dogs and cats each morning before starting his workday.
“Uncle Mike” as the entire town of Deshler knew him, could be spotted almost daily on the bench at the grocery store in town spending time with his favorite orange cat, Simba. Simba belonged to the neighboring vet clinic, but soon became Uncle Mike’s special furry friend. He loved to pet sit for friends. Mike enjoyed spending time after work at the local Deshler Bar, where he was immediately invited to sit at the coveted “round table.” This group of individuals quickly became some of Mike’s best friends. They talked about sports, farming, politics and shared many laughs over the course of the years. They were family to him, and he enjoyed this group very much.
As the workdays would come to a close, Mike would check the time often, not wanting to miss a single moment with his friends each evening at the round table. The entire community of Deshler misses seeing “Uncle Mike” on his bench or his Yellow Subaru driving by.
Mike is preceded in death by his mother; grandmother, Anna Rezac; niece, Leslie Schaefer; step-mother, Lee Hall Schaefer; and numerous beloved family members.
Survivors cherishing his memory include his father and step-mother, John (Jane) Schaefer of Seward; brother, Steve (Debi) Schaefer of Marquette; twin sisters, Debby (Jim) Aegerter of Seward and Becky (Duff) Campbell of Seward; niece, Christy (Derek) Farnstrom of Hebron; nephews, James Campbell of Seward, Brian (Cassie) Campbell of Lincoln, and Clint (Taylor) Aegerter of Omaha; great-nieces, Riley Farnstrom and Mac Campbell; great-nephews, Brody Campbell, Jackson Campbell and Lucas Campbell; and a host of friends and relatives.
A memorial service was March 12 with inurnment at the Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Schaefer family for future designations. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
