Robert Schaffer

Robert Schaffer, 76, Bismarck, passed away on June 2, 2024.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00PM, Thursday, June 6, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

A family interment will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. 

Robert George Schaffer (Bob) was born on February 11, 1948 in Graceville MN, to Clarence and Helen (Grohs) Schaffer. He attended Catholic school in Dumont and later Graceville High- graduating in 1966. Robert entered the Air Force in July of 1966. He did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He attended jet over two school at Chanute Air Force Base and B-52 schooling. He was sent to Minot Air Force Base for four years where he received his nuclear certification. Robert was assigned to the 5^th OMS Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base (MAFB) serving as flying crew chief on B-52's. He served four years proudly achieving the ranks of Sergeant E4 and Staff Sergeant E5. Following his time at MAFB he participated in many temporary duty assignments (TDYs) around the United States. He was honorably discharged as an E5 in July of 1970. After his years of active service, Robert always stayed in touch with the military members that he served with.

After his Air Force tour, Bob attended Kundert Aviation Mechanic School in Fargo. Due to his military experience, his training was expedited and shortly thereafter he returned to the Minot Airforce Base and worked Civil Service for the Transient Alert for 30 years (18 years in aircraft maintenance for military and civilian planes and 12 years in the Motor Pool as a heavy equipment mechanic).  He married Wanda (Cook) in 1970 and began their life together in Glenburn, and later Minot, with their 2 daughters Rochelle (Shelly) and Becky.  

A farm boy at heart, Bob loved animals.  Over the years raising cattle, horses, sheep and pigs. He also did custom haying, selling straw and square bales. As part time jobs he read meters for Verendrye Electric and later for Mclean County.  Bob and Wanda moved to Riverdale, ND in 1995 where he enjoyed hunting and fishing in that area, and family gatherings at the lake. In Riverdale Bob made many new friends, he joined the volunteer fire department and was a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee.  In the fall of 2020 Bob and Wanda moved to Bismarck.  

Bob loved his family above all else, especially his dog Lucy.  He loved his outdoor hobbies and interests that a life in ND supported- hunting deer, elk, moose, antelope, pheasants and prairie dogs, ice fishing, river fishing, camping, riding UTV on trails in the Black Hills, and Wyoming, riding horses in the Badlands, making his own horseradish to share and trying his luck with the slot machines. 

In 2020 he was elated to be selected as a veteran for the inaugural Western ND Honor Flight to Washington, DC. 

Bob leaves behind countless treasured memories for family and friends alike. 

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Wanda; daughters, Rochelle (Joey) VanderVliet; Becky (Wyatt) Hanson; granddaughters; Paige and Averie Hanson; Sydnee VanderVliet;  sisters Kathleen Nicolai Tacoma, WA; Kristine (Denny) Bray Austin, MN; sister-in-laws Jacki (Gary) Johnson, Minot, ND, Beverly Schaffer (MN), and brother-in-law Rodney (Leanne) Cook, Mohall ND; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kenny and brother-in-law John Nicolai, and infant twin grand-daughters.