William L. Schiffbauer

William L Schiffbauer, retired Army Master Sergeant, died September 3, 2019, at the age of 87.

Born in Ewing, Nebraska, April 4, 1932, Bill joined the Army in 1950 and served 20 years, seeing combat in Korea (Purple Heart, Oct ‘51) and Vietnam. He married Mary Ann (Pfeifer) on Thanksgiving day, 1954, and thereafter their growing family experienced tours in Germany, Panama, Bill’s training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Rockford Illinois, always returning to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, where he eventually retired from active duty in 1970.

After retirement, Bill worked various jobs, and, perhaps due to the Army life, felt the need to change locations, houses, and vehicles, every few years, never quite settled, yet never leaving Colorado and the Pikes Peak area. His love of the beauty and serenity of the high country was constant, and he clearly passed that love on to all of his seven children. Sunday drives to Cripple Creek or along Rampart Range Road for picnics, or to view the aspens turning were fondly remembered by the whole family.

He loved going out for breakfast with Mary; for sticky buns or biscuits with sausage gravy. He loved tent and camper family outings; hiking while his knees held up, shooting his pistols and rifles (he was a sharpshooter in Korea), camp coffee, cowboy boots, western shirts, silver and turquoise rings and belt buckles, and pocketknives.

A longtime Knight of Columbus, Bill attended daily Mass for years at St. Benedict parish in Florence, CO. He and Mary enjoyed their friends in the community and praying daily rosaries and chaplets of divine mercy together at home. Their litany after grace* had all wondering if the food might get cold.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife Mary, his three sons Martin (Robin), of Craig, Co, Rodney of Austin, TX, Rory (Lara) of Hastings, NE, his four daughters Cheryl (Larry) Butler of Phoenix, AZ, Jodene (Ray) De Blois of Palmer Lake, CO, Antonette (Joe) Hanko of Ft. Myers, FL, and Jennifer (Frank) McCuddy of Rawlins, WY. He is also survived by his brother John Schiffbauer, of Norfolk, NE, as well as 16 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Velva, sisters Ruth and Arlene, brother Tom, and daughter-in-law Ann (Rodney).

Visitation will be from 6 to 7 pm Tuesday, September 10, 2019 with Rosary at 6:30 pm at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. Funeral Mass for Bill will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2312 E. Campbell, Phoenix. Interment with military honors to follow at 1:00 pm at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix.

*Their litany: “Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever, amen. All for the greater honor and glory of God, all for Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, amen.”