WILLIAM “BILL” JOHN SCHAEFER, 97, of Follansbee, WV, entered eternal rest on December 19, 2024 while at Weirton Medical Center with his loved ones and his devoted wife by his side. Bill was born on July 26, 1927 in Follansbee, WV to the late William M. and Agatha I. (Fitzgerald) Schaefer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William M. Schaefer (Laurel). Bill graduated from Follansbee High School and served as Editor of the school newspaper, “The Ingot.” Upon graduation, he proudly went on to enlist and serve in the United States Navy (Amphibious Forces) during WWII. He was a member of the U. S. Naval Reserve from 1946 through 1951. His active-duty tour was aboard the U.S.S. Scania (AKA – 40). Bill received an honorable discharge (He was issued a Ruptured Duck – an insignia to service personnel who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at the time) from the Navy and was also awarded campaign medals for the American Theatre of War, the WWII Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal. His unit also received the Presidential Unit Citation from President Harry S. Truman. Bill graduated from the College of Steubenville, OH, Cum Laude (Now Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio) and attended W & J College (now Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA). He also attended Illinois Benedictive College in Illinois, where he studied Theology – he was a very spiritual man. He became a Deacon at St. John the Baptist Church, Winfield, Illinois. He retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corp, after 41 years, where he was an Executive Steel Salesman. Bill was also the former President of Gateway Steel Company in Pittsburgh, PA. Bill was a businessman and volunteered – he did his “civic duty” wherever he lived. He was a former Mayor of Follansbee, Commander of the Emry’s Watkins American Legion Post #45 in Follansbee, served on the Brooke Memorial Squad (now the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad), Chairman of the Quincivitans Club, Chairman of the City of Follansbee Tree Committee USA and Officer of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, in Illinois. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the American Iron and Steel Institute. Bill had a passion for “being on the water”. That is why he chose to join the Navy during WWII. He often said, “Some of the Best times in my life was when I was in the Navy.” Bill also became an avid sailor – sail boating! He loved to sail on The Great Lakes. He could navigate his sailboats “by the stars” with great accuracy! He did ice boating too! He was a lifeguard (while very young). He was in Heaven when he was doing anything “on the water”! Bill LOVED West Virginia too – it is the people and the places that make West Virginia a special place! He was born in West Virginia and eventually came back to West Virginia to raise a family and then stayed in West Virginia. Bill was also an avid reader, he was a natural story teller. He wrote articles about the things he was passionate about and he also could write poetry. He could play the piano, he was a farmer, he had a horse farm and he was a beekeeper later in life. Bill lived a very long and interesting life and he will be deeply missed! Bill is survived by his loving wife, Teresa (Koch) Schaefer and his five children, Erich E. (Laura) Schaefer, Kurt A. Schaefer, Karl J. (Karra) Schaefer, Lincoln J. (Sarah) Schaefer and Adelle M. Schaefer, MD and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family and friends were received on Friday, December 27, 2024 and again on Saturday, December 28, 2024 until the time of the funeral service, at the James Funeral Home, Follansbee, with the Reverend Benjamin Wright presiding. Interment followed at Oak Grove Cemetery, Follansbee, with Military Honors by the United States Navy and his comrades of the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at www,garysinisefoundation.org.