Tom Schaeffer was born August 11, 1932, to the late Louis and Emma (Flierl) Schaeffer in Frackville, PA. Upon graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Army and served 2 years at Fort Eustis, VA during the Korean War. Tom married Mary Jane (Haines) on February 28, 1953. Enjoying a long and happy marriage, they would have celebrated 68 years together next month. Following his military service, he relocated to Laureldale, PA where he started his business with a gas station and camper rentals. Over his 66 year career, he grew his business from a small gas station selling Apache Pop Up Campers into Tom Schaeffer’s RV Superstore of today, now a third-generation family-owned-and-operated enterprise with 15 acres of inventory, an extensive RV Parts Department, and a large RV Service Center with 22 service bays, one of the top twenty RV dealerships in the country.
Tom was a self-made man with business instincts, personal integrity, honesty, an engaging personality, and a devotion to family, God, and country. He was sincerely interested in the well being of each and every employee and their families, which earned him their respect and dedication to their jobs. Tom was a workaholic, continuing working every day at his business up until his day of hospitalization.An avid adventurer, Tom traveled extensively throughout the country and the world on business trips and vacations, often accompanied by his children and/or grandchildren and their friends. His most memorable trip was an African Safari with his grandchildren.
Tom was an active member of St Mary Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg PA. He served on many committees including his current position on the Finance Committee. He also served on the Board of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association as an officer of the Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle and Camping Association and on the Southeast Dealers Association as Treasurer.
He was a champion of many people and organizations. He loved each and every animal and despised animal abuse. He had great memories with his dogs: Heidi, Amber, and Molly. He loved Irish music, reading books, fishing, maintaining his enviable lawns.
Mr. Schaeffer is survived by three children whom he adored: Thomas R. Schaeffer and wife Amanda, Shoemakersville, Mary E Reinhart and husband Kevin, Shoemakersville, and Scott C Schaeffer and Tara, his companion, and boys Corey, Kyle, Cameron of Reading and a sister Margaret Gibbons, Scotia, NY. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by 10 grandchildren: Aaron & Bradley Bashore, Sarah Schaeffer, Nathan, Rebecca, Matthew, Michael, & Alli Reinhart, Emily & John Schaeffer and two great-grandchildren Zaidyn Werley and Romy Schaeffer and numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter Susan J. Bashore (Schaeffer), infant son, Louis, grandson Seth Schaeffer, and his sister, Marie Garvey.
Mr. Schaeffer will be forever dearly missed by all his family, staff, and coworkers at Tom Schaeffers RV Superstore.
