Arnold C. Schaper

Arnold C. Schaper, 92, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. He was born on August 22, 1923 in Ft. Wayne to Gottlieb C. and Wilhelmina (Nuerge) Schaper. Arnold met Joyce V. Dornoff in 1974 and was united in marriage on February 7, 1976 in Butler, Indiana and she survives. They were married 40 years.

Arnold was a lifelong farmer who had lived for 82 years on his Ossian farm. Besides farming, Arnold enjoyed gardening, fishing trips, and vacation trips with his wife.

Arnold was a World War II veteran, serving in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater. While in the Navy, Arnold was a SeaBee, stationed on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Island Chain. Following the war, Arnold joined the American Legion Post #43 in Decatur, where he still maintained his membership.

Arnold was also a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Ossian where he had belonged to the Christian Fellowship group and served on the church cemetery committee. He was the last surviving member of his 1937 Confirmation Class at Bethlehem.

Arnold is survived by his wife, Joyce along with his cousin Mildred (Wilmer) Rohrbach of Ft. Wayne and close friends Kurt Jack and Neil and Andrew Stoppenhagen. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents and a number of cousins.

Funeral services for Arnold will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 6, 2016 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian with Rev. Randall Wurschmidt officiating and interment following in the church cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by the American Legion Post #43 Color Guard. Friends and family will be received from 12 Noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2016 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Decatur and one hour prior to services Monday at the church.

Preferred memorials are to Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Ossian or to Worship for Shut-Ins.