Marlow Schaefer

Marlow Clarence Schaefer, 82, of Wichita, KS passed peacefully into the arms of his loving Savior on October 3, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on February 9, 1944 in Atchison, KS to Clarence and Eldred (nee Segerhammar) Schaefer. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1961, attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, NE, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from Wichita State University in 1974. He also went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education from Pittsburg State University. Marlow served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970, serving one tour of duty in the Vietnam war with Forward Air Controller Team 86 in Tan An Province from October 1967 to October 1968. Marlow met Linda Alig at a Walther League event in 1963 and they were married four years later on June 3, 1967 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Leavenworth, KS. The marriage was blessed with three daughters, six grandchildren, and two great- grandsons.

While living in Wichita in the 1970’s, Marlow worked as an engineering illustrator for both Boeing and Cessna. In 1978, he relocated to Leavenworth, KS and accepted a Federal Government position as Screen Print Shop Manager at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth. He filled this role until his retirement in 2004. He also owned his own small t-shirt printing business, Schaefer Graphics, from 1981 to 2005.

After retirement, Marlow and Linda volunteered for ten years with the Lutheran organization Laborers For Christ. Through this organization, they assisted with building projects for churches, schools and facilities in Virginia, Louisiana, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, then lived in Flower Mound, Texas for ten years before moving back to Wichita in 2025. Marlow was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Throughout his entire life he was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and he instilled his unwavering faith in his daughters and grandchildren. He enjoyed music and singing and was an active member of the church choir wherever he lived. A highlight was twice performing with his church choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Marlow participated on many softball, basketball and volleyball teams throughout his life, even pitching slow-pitch softball until age 70. He enjoyed camping (especially in Colorado), hiking, visiting the National Parks, gardening, home remodeling and home projects, and he especially relished telling and sharing jokes with anyone he would meet. He was also an avid supporter of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks, and his alma mater, Wichita State Shockers.

Marlow was reunited in heaven with his parents, Clarence and Eldred Schaefer, and his sisters, Leona Schauer and Marion Koeppen. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Linda Schaefer, and his three daughters, Christine (Martin) Tuck of Wichita, KS; Jennifer (Dan) Sawyer of Aurora, CO; and Laurel (Juan) Freyre of Riverview, FL; grandchildren Monica (Max) McGarry, Juan Freyre II, Emmanuel Freyre, Elizabeth (Noah) Jenkins, Marlow Freyre, and Amanda Tuck; and great-grandsons Jordan and Callen.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on November 27 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wichita, KS (time of service still to be decided). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 N. Greenwich, Wichita, KS 67206.