John Schaer

John Charles Schaer, age 90, of Twin Falls, Idaho left this life surrounded by his wife, son and niece on January 30, 2022, of causes incident to age. John was born on a farm outside of Castleford, Idaho on May 14, 1931 to his parents John and Winnifred (Griffin) Schaer. He was the first born of three sons. He graduated from Castleford High School in 1949. John married Norma Jean Smalley on November 6th, 1954 at Clover Lutheran Church in Buhl, Idaho. They went on to celebrate 67 wedding anniversaries. John was drafted into the United States Navy in 1955 and served honorably for two years in the Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii. John attained the rank of Machinists Mate 3rd Class and worked as a boiler operator in the engine room of the U.S.S. Philip. John saw duty in Japan during his deployment and for several months, John and his wife Norma Jean lived in Honolulu. While growing up John worked on the family farm in Castleford. John tragically lost his father to illness in late 1941 when John was 10 years old. From that time forward it was John, his mother and two younger brothers, and John had to assume a lot of duties and responsibilities of a head of household at a very young age. After marrying, John worked as a farmer in Castleford and Hazleton. In the early 1960’s John and his two brothers farmed in both Mud Lake and Castleford simultaneously for a few years. From 1965 to 1979 John farmed west of Idaho Falls and worked many hard hours growing spuds, grain and barley. The winters in western Bonneville County were some years quite long and challenging and during the Fall spud harvests John spent many long hours driving spud combine harvesters and spud trucks along with working in the cellars. John and his wife, daughter, and son lived on a farm in Northwest Bonneville County from 1965 to 1971 on a gravel road 20 miles from town with no telephone and about 4 to 5 miles from the nearest paved road. The Family later lived on Moeller Road and in the Osgood area during the 1970’s, 80’s and early 90’s. John’s son Jeff would later recall these years with very deep nostalgia for the isolation and unique beauty of the rural Idaho countryside and way of life. After farming John went to work as a maintenance supervisor in food processing and later agricultural chemical application. In 1997 John departed eastern Idaho after about 35 years of living there and returned to his Magic Valley roots. John worked for the Twin Falls Canal Company for eight seasons as a ditch rider from 1997 to 2004. John enjoyed 18 years of retirement in the country south of Twin Falls, he was always connected to agriculture and he and his family loved country living and considered it essential to a good life. John and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Buhl in November 2004 in the company of many friends and family and recently celebrated their 67th. Wherever John lived and worked he made many friends and enjoyed fine neighbors. John loved to work in his yard and garden and in his shop where he was handy with tools and very good at fixing things. He enjoyed reading and cooking and he was very fond of his many pet cats. He liked his neighbors and enjoyed chatting with them across the fence. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Robert. He is survived by his wife Norma Jean, his daughter Julie, his son Jeff and his brother Fred. A graveside funeral will be held at Clover Lutheran Church in Buhl on Monday, February 7th 2022 at 1pm. John was the son of a Swiss immigrant. John spent his early life struggling to make a living in the harsh arid west of the 1930’s to 1970’s. He was a farmer, Navy veteran, father and friend. He will be sadly missed. View John's Graveside Service on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/2VJnLfOgZUo