William G. Scheefer, Jr.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 13, 2019
Undated, unidentified clipping in a scrapbook at the Saranac Lake Veteran's Club.
This photograph was published a third time with a caption reading "Lieut. William G. Scheefer, Jr., of Saranac Lake, who is stationed at Seattle, Wash., with the Army Airways Communications System. He is a technical officer and trained at Yale university, New Haven Conn., from which he was commissioned on March 30... His wife, the former Miss Barbara Bishop, is with him in Seattle.
It was published a fourth time with a caption reading "Lieut. William G. Scheefer, Jr., of Saranac Lake who is on terminal leave from the Army Air Forces. He has been in active service since Nov. 1943 and served overseas as a detachment commander in charge of a communications station. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Scheefer of 22 Broadway.Born: December 21, 1920
Died: March 30, 2019
Married: Barbara Bishop; Brigitte Herbert
Children: William G. Scheefer III, Robert Scheefer, David Scheefer, Thomas Scheefer
William G. Scheefer, Jr., was a World War II veteran. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Scheefer of 22 Broadway. He was a jeweler and optician, was the owner of Scheefer Jewelers. He served as president of the Saranac Lake Ski Club, the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the Saranac Lake General Hospital. He lived above the store, at 22 Broadway.
In World War II, he served as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Force.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 13, 2019
William G. “Bunny” Scheefer Jr., 98, of Saranac Lake, died Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid.
Bill was born in Saranac Lake on Dec. 21, 1920, to William G. Scheefer Sr. and Alma Valida (Cumm) Scheefer. He graduated from Saranac Lake High School in 1939 and St. Lawrence University in 1943. He attended Yale University, studying math. In March 1944, Bill entered the United States Army Air Corps as a communications officer and was honorably discharged in May 1946 as a first lieutenant. He was stationed in North Africa (Oujda, Oran), French Morocco and Italy. In 1945 he was assigned as detachment commander. In 1946 he applied to Columbia University and was accepted to study optometry. In 1946 Bill took over Scheefer’s Jewelry store from his father, due to illness, and ran the business until 2004, when he retired. He served on the General Hospital Board of Directors from 1953 until 1960 and again from 1982 until 1988. He was president from 1957 until 1959 and treasurer from 1986 until 1988. Bill was at one time the head of the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce and was one of those people responsible for encouraging the Shoe Factory to move to Saranac Lake. Bill enjoyed skiing, tennis and playing softball for E. John’s Lounge.
Bill married the former Brigitte Herbert on Aug. 7, 1962, in Saratoga Springs.
Bill is survived by his wife Brigitte Scheefer of Saranac Lake; three sons: Robert K. (Linda) Scheefer of Saranac Lake and Vero Beach, Florida, Thomas G. (Sandy) Scheefer of Paonia, Colorado, and David J. Scheefer of Gunnison, Colorado; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his father and mother; one son, William “Bill” G. Scheefer III; and one grandson, William G. Scheefer IV.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 17 at 11 a.m. at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake. A reception to celebrate Bill’s life will immediately follow the burial at Mount Pisgah Lodge in Saranac Lake.
Friends wishing to remember Bill may make memorial contributions to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad or a charity of their choice in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Family and friends may also sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
