Gerald Lee (Gary) Schafer, 79, died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on September 14, 2026, at KU Med Center after a many-year battle with Cancer.

Gary was born on January 14, 1947, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Laurence and Helen (Nepper) Schafer. Gary moved with his family in 1952 to Kansas City, Kansas.

Gary attended St. Patrick’s grade school; St. John Vianney HS seminary in Elkhorn, Nebraska; St Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado; and KU Law School in Lawrence, Kansas.

Gary married Rita Putthoff on September 27, 1980.

After school, Gary worked in hardware supply as a Customer Service Rep for Stowe Hardware and Broadway Home Center for about 10 years. This inspired his passion for DIY Home Improvement that culminated in the complete remodel of Gary and Rita’s 3- story Hyde Park house from 1990 to 2014.

Gary began working as a paralegal in 1983 at Shugart Thompson and Kilroy and retired from Posinelli Shugart in 2011.

In 2012, Gary started volunteering at the Community Blood Bank of Kansas City, where he delivered blood in the rural areas surrounding Kansas City. Gary received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2016 and 2017.

Gary and Rita were long-time members of Visitation Parish. They particularly enjoyed travelling with the Visitation Choir to Italy in 2009 and 2014 and to Spain in 2011.

Gary is survived by his wife Rita, brother Steve Schafer (Lorie), sister Kathryn (Schafer) Braddy, 5 nephews and 4 grand-nephews and nieces. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence and Helen, and Brother-in-law Glen Braddy.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Visitation Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will precede the mass starting at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Visitation Parish or the Community Blood Bank of Kansas City.