Karl "Spitzi" Schaefer

Service Details

A Memorial Service, celebrating his life, will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, February 1^st at 3:00 p.m. Relatives and friends can meet with the family that Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the Service.

Memorial Suggestions

The family has requested no flowers and that any memorials be made to the donor’s choice of charity.

Karl Heinz “Spitzi” Schaefer, 83, passed away at his home, in the arms of his son, on Monday, January 20, 2020. Spitzi was born in Hamburg, Germany on September 15, 1936, the son of the late Kurt and Ina (nee: Weber) Schaefer.

Spitzi played soccer for Duneberger SV in Hamburg Germany before he was recruited and brought to the United States in 1957 to play professional soccer with the Racine Soccer Club. He met the love of his life, Hannelore “Lori” Neugebauer, in Germany, and in 1961 he returned to Germany to bring her back to Racine. They were married on October 28, 1961. Lori preceded him in death on March 21, 2000.  Spitzi was a very talented soccer player, and played for many top teams in the Racine and Milwaukee area. His “day job” was as a professional painter, he worked  for various companies here in Racine, finishing his career with Baumeister Decorating. He was a member of the Deutscher Manner Verein, and the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades District 7.

Surviving are his son, Thomas (Nancy) Schaefer, of Ottawa, IL, one grandson, Andrew Schaefer, of St. Louis, MO, two brothers, Kurt and Jurgen Schaefer, a niece, Nicole Schaefer, and great niece, Stella Schaefer, all in Hamburg, Germany.