1931~2017
Robert Joe Schaffler was born on January 17, 1931, in Hitchcock, Oklahoma. His parents were Sylvia Fleming Schaffler and Henry E. Schaffler. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, Minnie and Otto Schenk, with their children Woody, Ted and Dorothy Schenk. He departed this life on Monday, October 16th, 2017, at the age of 86. He was known to his family and friends as “Bob” and he was raised and educated in Hitchcock where he graduated from high school in 1949. He attended one year of college at Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater where he was a member of ROTC. On November 22, 1950, he was united in marriage to Donna Jean Payne. They have spent their 67 year marriage in Watonga. They are the parents of four children, Susan, Robert, Gail and Gerald “Jerry”. Bob was a farmer/rancher for his entire life. He also was an ASCS (FSA) employee where he enjoyed working with other farmers and his fellow employees. For twenty years he was a custom harvester with his father-in-law, Henry Payne. They harvested wheat in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt and uncle, Minnie and Otto Schenk, his brother, William J. Schaffler in 1988, and his son Jerry Schaffler in 1981. He is survived by his wife, Donna, of the family home in Watonga, and his children, Susan of Watonga, Robert and his wife Judy of Watonga, and Gail and husband Rodney of Lamar, Colorado. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Sam (Raegan) Schaffler of Tulsa, Keela (Chas) Patterson of Cherokee, Jerry Schroeder of Lamar, Colorado, Sarah (Matt Nieschburg) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Tyler John “T.J.” (Taylor) Bailey of Greenfield and seven great-grandchildren, Kynli, Creed and Hadli Patterson, Quinn, Hudson and Sloane Schaffler, and Tinleigh Bailey. He is also survived by half-brother Henry Jay (Alana) Schaffler of Norman and half-sister Minnie (Bob) Gonzales of Texas. Funeral services for Bob were held on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Hitchcock United Methodist Church with James and Shirley Farmer officiating. Burial will follow at the IOOF Cemetery in Watonga, Oklahoma. Wilkinson Mortuary of Watonga is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Watonga Senior Citizens Center or the Hitchcock United Methodist Church direct or in care of the funeral home office.