John Alvin Schaefer

John A. Schaefer died at Providence St. Mary Hospital on July 11, 2022. At his request, there will be no services. John lived to the age of 91. He was born in Walla Walla as the seventh and last child of Henry Schaefer and Henrietta Salmeier Schaefer. He attended Paine school through the fifth grade when the family moved to Astoria, OR. John graduated from high school in 1949, and the family moved back to Walla Walla.

In 1952 John began a farming operation on the Stateline Road, raising hay, grain, and sugar beets. This was a life he dearly loved, but economic times forced him to sell out the operation in 1962. He enrolled in the refrigeration course at J.M. Perry Technical Institute in Yakima, WA, and simultaneously earned a two-year degree at Columbia Basin College. Upon graduation from J.M. Perry, John went to work for Harold Electric Co. for seven years.

In 1971 John founded Schaefer Refrigeration, Inc., supplying service to homes, commercial and farm accounts. He was a certificate member of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and was an instructor for that entity. He conducted many day-long seminars in multiple cities in the Northwest, teaching farmers how to service and repair their tractors and combine air conditioning units. In 1981, a serious medical problem forced John to leave his hard-won business. It was sold to an employee of the company.

John wrote several books, including Farm Air Conditioning Service, Job Search, and a collections book. He was a great bill collector and had many stories of things he did to collect debts. He assumed an unpaid bill was stealing, and that really angered him. His new business, Confidential Consultants, allowed him to continue in this field.

John was a lifetime member of the Walla Walla Elks Club and a member of the Walla Walla Historical Auto Club. He loved classic cars and heavy trucks. He restored a few, notably a 1956 GMC Dual Drive log truck from the frame up. John's favorite pastime was traveling and camping in his motor home. He and his long-time sweetie, Alma Hartman, spent many days on the Oregon coast with their dog Penny. They all three loved camping at Corps parks also.

John is survived by his niece and best friend, Margie Smith of Walla Walla, his nephew Michael Schaefer of Seattle, as well as many other nieces and nephews. John considered himself fortunate to have had many good friends and cherished them greatly.

John was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Frances, Arthur, Robert, Jeanette, Richard, and William, and his long-time sweetie, Alma Hartman.