Joseph Martin Schaeffer's Obituary
Joseph Schaeffer, Sr., 58, of Spotsylvania County, passed away quietly with his wife be his side, at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center in the evening of Monday, January 12, 2026 of pulmonary fibrosis.
He was a 1984 graduate of Woodbridge High School. On August 11, 1984, he married his high school sweetheart, Cindy. Later in August 1984, he joined the USMC and attended boot camp in Paris Island, SC. He was stationed in Millington, TN and Cherry Point, NC. From there he went on deployments to Japan and the Philippines. In August 1990, while stationed at the air station in Yuma, AZ with Marines: VMA-311 Tomcats Yuma, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia. Joseph was a veteran of Desert/Shield. While there he was medically transferred back to Yuma for ear surgery. He was then hit by a truck while jogging on base.
Due to the damage he received, he was sent home to Woodbridge, VA to await medical discharge at the rank of Sgt. The medical issue caused nerve damage to his body. He was officially medically discharged from USMC Quantico after recovering from a hernia surgery.
He then worked as a mechanic with his father at Schaeffer's Heating & Cooling while he got his HVAC associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College with honors. Afterwards he went to work as a mechanic for PWC Gov. for over 20 years. His highest position was Assistant Maintenance Operation Supervisor at which point he was medically retired from PWC. In the last few years, he was declared a 90% USMC service-related disabled veteran due to lung and nerve damage from his military service. He lived with his wife and children peacefully in Spotsylvania, VA until he passed.
Joseph is survived by his wife of 41 years, Cindy; son, Joseph Jr. of VA; two granddaughters, Mia and Ellie of AR; Joseph Jr's fiancée, April and her son, Simon of VA; daughter, Crystal of VA; a foster daughter, Lindsey of NC; a foster grandson, Dylon of NC; and a foster son, Atilano of VA; as well as possibly other foster children; brother, James Jr. of KY; sisters, Carolyn and Teresia of VA; brother, Kenny of AL; many brothers and sisters in law; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Leonard Schaeffer, Sr. and Lillian Louise Burke Schaeffer; and his brother, Mitchell Lee Schaeffer.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 10719 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg.
A graveside service will follow at 12:30 p.m. in Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA.
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