Edwin left home at an early age and worked in the oilfield before joining the US Navy in 1942. He made the Navy a career, and was twice injured during WWII. He received the Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal five times, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 bronze campaign stars, America Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze campaign stars, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Navy Occupation Service Medal. He earned his high school equivalency while in the Navy. He also received his certification in air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating from the Commercial Trades Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Ed spent his last two years as a Navy recruiter in Louisiana and Mississippi. He made many friends in this area. Ed retired from the Navy in 1964 as a Senior Chief Quartermaster (E-8). Following his retirement from the military, he was a captain of a crew boat on the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Upon returning to Shiner, Ed opened his own refrigeration business.

Ed was always willing to help anybody and often helped those who had fallen on hard times. He was a generous and kind person.

Ed was married to Thelma Rowlen in Mississippi. They adopted their son Edwin Jr. "Bevo". His wife passed away in 1964 and his son in 1969.

Ed met Adela Claus in 1970 and they enjoyed 32 years of friendship and companionship. Ed was "adopted" by Adela's family and was endeared to them as "PaPa Ed". Ed and Adela enjoyed many good times dancing, and playing dominoes and "31" at Rosie's Hideaway in Witting.

Ed was an avid fisherman, and could stay out on a boat for hours on end, because "the fish were going to start biting directly." He enjoyed fishing at Sargent as well as fishing for crappie in a local pond. Ed also enjoyed playing poker and making a trip to the casinos in Louisiana.

Edwin is survived by his step-daughter Carolyn Miles and her family of Water Valley, Mississippi; 3 sisters, Millie Janota of Gonzales, Pearl Welfl of Bay City, and Christi Wenske of Moulton; and the family of Adela Claus.

Edwin was preceded in death by his wife Thelma, son Bevo Schaefer, brother Adolf Schaefer, sister Margaret Valis, and special friend Adela Claus.

Service: 1 pm, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 at Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner. Visitation: 3 pm, Friday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosary: 7 pm, Friday at Kubena Funeral Home. Officiate: Rev. Robert "Bob" Knippenberg. Pallbearers: Brent Smith, Brian Smith, Michael Foeh, Jim Taylor, Eugene Welfl, Dennis Welfl, David Janota, and Charlie Wenske. Burial: 1 pm, Monday at Greenville Cemetery in Greenville, Mississippi. Memorials: donations to the Kidney Foundation.