John R. Schiffbauer, Jr.

Mass of Christian Burial for John R. Schiffbauer, Jr., age 92, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 27, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Reverend Scott Schilmoeller will be the celebrant.  Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.  Military honors conducted by the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard, VFW Post 1644 and American Legion Post 16.  Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass at the church.  The Mass will be livestreamed on the funeral home’s website.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

He passed away Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

John was born in Chambers, Nebraska, on December 4, 1928, to John R., Sr. and Velva T. (McCoy) Schiffbauer.   He grew up in Ewing, Nebraska, and attended Ewing Public School.  He played basketball for the Ewing Tigers.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 17, 1948, and served in the 8th Army Division until 1954.   During the Korean Conflict, he was stationed in Japan and served as Master Sergeant and conductor on a U.S. Army train.  He returned to the United States in 1952 to complete his service at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. He was discharged in 1954 and returned to Nebraska.

John married Michiko “Jean” Negishi Hinohara, on November 3, 1951, in Yokohama, Japan, at the U.S. Army Chapel Center.   He graduated from Southeast Community College at Milford, Nebraska in 1958, and moved to Sidney, Nebraska, where he worked as a welder for two years.  In 1960, he returned to Norfolk, Nebraska, and started J&R Construction Company in the business of remodeling and cabinet making until his retirement in 1992.

He enjoyed deer, pheasant, and turkey hunting.   He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Norfolk VFW Chapter.

John is survived by his four children William "Bill" of Washington, D.C., Marlene (Brad) Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, Tim (Susan) of Omaha, and Connie of Norfolk, grandchildren John William Schiffbauer of Potomac, Maryland, Elisabeth Schiffbauer of New York, New York, Zachary (Jenna) Schiffbauer of Omaha, Kailey (Ian) Barry of Omaha, Tara Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, Robert Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, and Connor Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, and four great grandchildren Mason and Olivia Schiffbauer; and Elijah and Adalena Jean Barry.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jean A. Schiffbauer, who died on September 3, 2018; his brother William of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his sister Arlene of Ewing, Nebraska; and his sister Ruth of Santa Maria, California.  

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