Funeral services for Mark Eugene Schaffner, 84, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 at the United Methodist Church in Wheatland with Pastor Donnie Holt officiating. Interment will be in the Valley View Cemetery in Torrington at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 with military honors accorded by the Travis Snow American Legion Post #5 and Wyoming Army National Guard Military Honors, also Masonic rites will also be accorded by Torrington Masonic Lodge #29 AF & AM.
Mark E. Schaffner passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20 at his home near Wheatland surrounded by his loving family.
Mark was born Wednesday, Feb. 7, 1934 in Bayard, Neb., son of Marcus Miller and Betty F.(McKiney) Schaffner. Mark lived with his family in Bayard until they moved to Torrington as a child. Mark graduated from Torrington High School in 1954. After graduation, Mark attended Elgin Watchmakers College in Elgin Ill. Mark served in the United States Army and spent two years active duty mostly in Panama. He returned to Torrington after his military service and worked with his father at Mark’s Jewelry until 1964. Mark married Barbara Ann Williams in 1958 where they lived in Torrington and had three children: Timothy Mark, Julie Ann, and Michael Raymond.
Mark started working campaigns at Holly Sugar Corporation in Torrington as a sample carrier which eventually led to a full time position with them. He transferred to the Holly Sugar plant in Hereford, Texas in 1964 as an instrument technician. His time with Holly Sugar moved him and his family from Hereford to Tracy, Calif. (1972), to Torrington (1973), to Sidney, Mont. (1976), and ultimately back to Torrington in 1986 as Plant Manager. His last move with Holly was to Hereford in 1989 where he retired in 1996.
After retirement, Mark took silver working classes, country dance classes with Barbara, and moved to Wheatland, where they opened Wyoming Trails Gallery. At the gallery they put their talents together creating beautiful jewelry and paintings. Mark and Barbara enjoyed dancing, gardening, and walks through the beautiful trees they had planted at their home. Mark also enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. His greatest passion was family and spending time with them, especially the annual family camping trip to the Bighorn Mountains.
Through the years Mark’s accomplishments were many. The greatest of these was being an outstanding husband and father, Other accomplishments included being a member of the Torrington Masonic Lodge #29 AF & AM and a member of the Shriners where he helped several children to receive the help they so greatly needed. While in Hereford, Mark was active in the Big Brothers and was selected as big brother of the year 1990. He was on the board of the Torrington Chamber of Commerce from 1988 - 1990, a member of the Torrington Elks Club, the Wheatland Moose Lodge, and the Platte County Shooting Association.
Survivors include wife, Barbara, of Wheatland; son, Timothy Mark (Dennise) Schaffner of Glendive, Mont.; daughter, Julie Ann (Tom) Hoover of Driggs, Idaho; son, Michael Raymond (Katrina) Schaffner of Woodland Park, Colo.; brothers, Glenn Schaffner of Wheatland and Joe Schaffner of Casper; granddaughters, Kendra Hoover of Driggs and Katherine (Thomas) Leija of Twin Falls, Idaho; grandsons, Brett Schaffner of Quito, Ecuador and Derek Schaffner of Spring Creek, Nev.; great grandsons, Jaime, Dominic, and Michael Leija of Twin Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins and two aunts.
Preceding him in death were his father, Marcus, on Oct. 18, 1971; his mother, Betty, July 27, 2007; and baby brother, Craig L. Schaffner, April 4, 1951.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brett Schaffner, Derek Schaffner, Thomas Leija, James Schaffner, Ken Small, and Kenny Steinmetz.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Jon Schaffner, Jim Carmin, Wiley Scharnhorst, and Scott Thrasher..
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Torrington Shrine Travel Fund for families,
P.O. Box 2129, Casper, WY 82602 or donor’s choice.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com
