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Friday, September 25, 2009
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Nisswa honor bestowed on Ted Schaefer Nisswa Citizen of the Year Staff Writer NISSWA - Ted Schaefer prefers to remain a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.
But the Nisswa grocer was honored Thursday as the 2009 Nisswa Citizen of the Year at the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce Fall Membership Dinner at Grand View Lodge.
Schaefer was surprised by his family and friends when they burst into his Nisswa Lions meeting last week to inform him that he was named Citizen of the Year. He was nominated by his friends and fellow Lions members, Steve Johnson and Bruce Gateley.
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Ted Schaefer smiled Thursday while working at his grocery store, Schaefer's Foods, in Nisswa. Schaefer was honored as the 2009 Nisswa Citizen of the Year Thursday night at the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce Fall Membership dinner at Grand View Lodge. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"He was very embarrassed, he just turned red," said Gateley. "He's not a showy guy. He's run under the radar and that's the way he likes it. We love him."
"Ted just does so much for the community and doesn't really say a lot about it," said Nisswa Mayor Brian Lehman. "He does an amazing amount but doesn't look for or want the recognition."
"I'm very proud to get this award," Schaefer said during a Thursday morning interview.
Schaefer's grandfather, the first Theodore Henry Schaefer, opened his meat market at Sixth and Maple streets in Brainerd back in 1912. Schaefer's father, Theodore Schaefer II, and two brothers took over the market and moved it to Seventh and Maple streets in the 1950s, when it became Schaefer's Model Market. His dad and a brother, John, bought Jimmy's Shopping Center in Nisswa in 1964, where Schaefer's Foods is today. It became the first grocery store open year-round in the city. At that time the Schaefers owned four grocery stores, including one in Little Falls.
"I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps," said Schaefer. "I liked the people, I liked the business."
At one time or another, Schaefer had spent time working at all four grocery stores before the businesses were sold. He was a "ski bum" and working one winter at a Vail, Colo., restaurant when he met his wife, Robyn, who also was working there. They married in 1973. They have four children, Teddy, Tony, Andy and Tiffany, who all work at Schaefer's. Robyn, who retired two years ago as a Brainerd High School English teacher, is now teaching English part time at St. Cloud State University.
Schaefer and his brother, Tom, bought the Nisswa store in 1981. He bought out his brother in 1984. Schaefer's Foods, which went through remodeling and expansion projects in 1964, 1976 and 1993, has about 130 employees during the summer and about 75 employees in the winter.
Schaefer has been an active member of the Nisswa Lions for the past 25 years, serving in a variety of roles, including twice as club president. He's currently chair of the Koeze nut drive conducted in November. He has received two of the highest honors within the Lions Club, the Helen Keller and Melvin Jones awards. He's also served on the board of directors for the Nisswa Chamber and Ski Gull, where he taught skiing lessons for about 12 years. He's also served as a Cub Scouts leader and a volunteer at St. Christopher's Catholic Church.
In addition to allowing the Lions to sell their famous "Pork on a Stick" several times a year outside the grocery store, Schaefer's Foods also contributes to many fundraisers and events in the community. The store provides a $500 gift certificate as a grand prize for the Nisswa Jubilee each year. Schaefer's Foods donated all the ribs for last weekend's fall festival and barbecued ribs contest in Nisswa.
For Schaefer, who has lived in the Nisswa area since his parents moved to Gull Lake when he was in his teens, Nisswa is home.
"I think you owe something back to the community if you can do it," said Schaefer. "We try to do as much as we can close to home. It's easy to support a community that supports you."
"All the things he's done for the city of Nisswa, the laundry list is too long to start talking about," Gateley said of Schaefer. "That's 30 years of giving back to the community. He's just a phenomenal guy. I can't believe nobody's nominated him before."
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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