Schaefer

Joseph John "Big Joe" Schaefer, 61, of Portersville died Saturday at his home with his wife at his side.

Born June 27, 1948, in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late Regis J. and Maureen Clawson Schaefer.

Mr. Schaefer was a 1966 graduate of Seneca Valley High School.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1985 as a Seabee, serving two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in action. Joseph was known to his fellow naval comrades as "JJ."

Joseph enjoyed hunting, fishing and football. He was an avid Slippery Rock High School football fan.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah A. (Myers) Schaefer whom he married, Aug. 19, 1972; his stepmother, Betty Wilson Schaefer of Zelienople; a son, Joseph C. Schaefer of Bethesda, Md.; a daughter, Jennifer S. Mulneix of Portersville; two grandchildren, Chloe and Ralphie Mulneix; three brothers, William Schaefer (Alice) of Dayton, Ohio, Thomas Schaefer of Trafford and David Schaefer (Dee Ann) of Oneida, N.Y.; two sisters, Catherine Land (Ron) of Apollo and Cynthia Schaefer of Mesa, Ariz.; two sisters-in-law, Sister Patricia Myers (Sisters of The Holy Spirit) of West View, and Joanie Burgard (Larry) of Portersville.

<B>SCHAEFER</B> — Friends of Joseph John "Big Joe" Schaefer, who died Saturday, July 18, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 2 W. Beaver St., Zelienople, with Father Robert M. Miller.Burial with military honors will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates, Butler.Memorial donations may be made to the Slippery Rock High School Quarterback Club, P.O. Box 201, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.Online condolences & directions at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.