Travis Schaeffer

Congratulations, Travis & Family!

Travis Schaeffer has been described as a giver: of laughs, of service, and of himself. In high school, Travis would lend his talent, time and support to various music, sports, church, and career-building groups. In the summers, he gave his efforts to church youth servant events for those in need in South Dakota and other states. Coming from a small farming family, Travis worked various jobs and paid his way through college, where he met the love of his life, his wife, Jessica. Together, they built their family and career, always centered on their faith.

However, their lives became much more difficult in April 2021 when Jessica was diagnosed with cancer. From the start, they decided that they’d fight it with every avenue available, but understanding that, ultimately, it was in the Lord’s hands, and that they’d fully trust in His will for their lives. Over the next 5 months, Jessica underwent various tests and treatments to try to thwart the cancer.

Jessica and Travis made numerous trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. They purchased a different used van for their travel needs, as their previous one was not reliable. The van was necessary to make the trips as comfortable as possible for Jessica, as she was in great pain.

Travis was by her side continually, taking time away from his work to be with her and care for their four young children. He used all the PTO he had available, along with unpaid leave of absence. Travis will do whatever is necessary to provide a stable and loving home for their children. Through it all, Travis chronicled their cancer journey on CaringBridge, where their continued faith in God’s Providence themed the writings.

Unfortunately, Jessica lost her battle with cancer on September 29, 2021. The morning she passed, Travis saw the beautiful sun rise and knew Jessica had made it to heaven. Even at her funeral service, Travis was thankful for God’s faithfulness through it all. He now is left with the duty of being a full-time single parent of four children, ages 2-11.