Debra Jane Schaefer

Debra Jane Schaefer, 68, of Palatine, Illinois, died January 13, 2022, of COVID complications. Born March 4, 1953, in Parma, Ohio, to Robert and Genevieve (nee Gudaitis)  Schaefer.

Debbie was a force of nature and widely known for her kindness, charity, and common sense. She was a collector of Lladro figurines, miniature Snowbabies, and Department 56 Christmas Village pieces. She is shown in this 2004 photo with her dog, Tiger. While still in high school, she was a pivotal leader of the La Crosse Horse Show, one of biggest shows in the Midwest, which raised money for charity. Debbie participated in Jumping, Western, and Composition classes. She won a State Fair 4-H Championship, and when just a teenager, drove a pony cart in Milwaukee's Great Circus Parade.Though she went on Disability due to MS in mid-career, she found many ways to serve society. She worked on her condominium's Board of Directors and their Recreation Association for many years.As a volunteer at the Buddy Foundation, a no-kill animal shelter, she even talked her sister's family into adopting a cat and a dog from them.Tiger and Sunny were her two Shiba Inu breed dogs she dearly loved, along with her Australian Shepherd, Teddy Bear.

Debbie was an active supporter of the Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue Group. For her Presbyterian Church of Barrington IL, she helped prepare meals for Wednesday Night Alive, a youth group; knitted many beautiful lap robes with the Prayer Shawl Group; and held a leadership role in their Stephen Ministry. She raised thousands of dollars by getting together The Tenacious Tigers! team for many annual MS Walks.She was a reliable and affectionate pet sitter and a creative knitter of art scarves, sometimes featured in fashion shows, that utilized great combinations and patterns of specialty yarns.Her career started in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she grew up. After graduating from Central High School, she learned airline work in Kansas City and was employed by AB Dick selling computer software and hardware, and teaching classes on how to use them. She did the same for a couple years for a Michigan business, and then moved to Palatine to work for a company that programmed and supported Credit Union software. When it closed, Debbie and a partner began their own successful business, Beysch Consulting Group, out of Debbie's spare bedroom. She worked for McGladry & Pullen until her MS required going on Disability.

She was predeceased by grandparents, parents, and her brother, Mark. She is survived by his wife, Michelle, and their children, Christopher and Melissa; also her sister, Karen Copper (Glen and son Kaspar); her step-mom Marie Schaefer; and stepbrother Bill Erickson (Mona and children Jean and Will); and stepsister Joyce Felsheim (Jack and children Elizabeth, Emily, Mary and John).

Gifts in honor of Debbie Schaefer's memory are gratefully accepted at the Buddy Foundation www.thebuddyfoundation.org or the Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue Group www.shibarescue.org .

Debbie Schaefer's informal outdoor Celebration of Life has been set for
2:30 pm Saturday June 4 at The Buddy Foundation 65 W Seegers Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL. 60005, where she volunteered for many years
helping pets find new homes.

The memorial was delayed from January, when she passed away from Covid
complications.

Everyone is invited, so you can pass this on to anyone you think might
be interested. If you can, please let her sister, Karen, know if you
plan to attend so that we can prepare enough food and seating.

Karen can be reached at: coppers@execpc.com

Associated notes:
1. Some relatives will be staying at the Hilton Garden INN,
1191 Woodfield Rd.
Schaumburg on Friday June 3. (847 524 0455)
12 miles west of the Buddy Foundation

Let Karen know if you would like to join us for dinner Friday night,
at Maggiano's 1901 E Woodfield Rd. Schaumburg at 6:30 p.m.

2. The Buddy Foundation will be open on this day, so they will have
volunteers available to introduce potential adopters to available cat
and dogs. Their website is:thebuddyfoundation.org at the end of May to
see availabilities, and be sure to phone them at: 1-847-290-5806 to
make an appointment before the service so they can have enough staff.

3. Remember to get your booster shots. Masks are recommended indoors
when not eating.
Hope you can make it.