Don Schaefer

Don Schaefer was born on December 19, 1933, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Ferdinand Schaefer, who was born in Austria, and Ethel Schaefer, a Winnipeg native. He had one brother, Bob Schaefer, who owned a fur retail business in downtown Winnipeg. Don married Audrey, also born in Winnipeg in 1937; she passed away in September 2025. Together, they raised five children: Grant (who passed away in 1971), Todd, Glenn, Lisa, and Jody.

An accomplished and enthusiastic sportsman, Don maintained a lifelong commitment to athletics and competition. He played hockey as a defenseman, including a brief period in the Detroit Red Wings’ farm system, and remained actively involved in the sport for many years as both a player and coach. He was also an avid golfer, maintaining a 10 handicap, and achieved a personal highlight in 1985 when he competed in the Canadian Open Pro Am alongside Lee Trevino. In addition, he was a founding member of Shad’s R&R Golf Tournament. His sporting interests extended to ten pin bowling, billiards, and boxing, pursuits in which he was known for his skill and competitive spirit.

Don began his professional career working at a bowling alley before joining Globe Lite Batteries, where he advanced from forklift operator to inside sales representative. In 1971, he joined Monroe Canada as a Territory Manager in the Toronto area and was promoted in 1975 to National Sales Manager, overseeing all Canadian sales and marketing operations. Later, he served as Vice President of Sales at Walker Exhausts from 1981 until 1986. Over the course of his career, his family lived in several Canadian cities, including Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Calgary, Mississauga, Owen Sound, and Kitchener.

He passed away on December 18, 1986, while attending a Walker Exhaust sales conference in Florida. At his funeral, which was attended by a capacity congregation, Don Dawson, President of Acklands, paid tribute to Don by describing him as “the best one liner he had ever met.”