IPDG Herman A. Schafer was born on November 19, 1938 and was raised on a farm near the small town of Flasher, ND. He attended country school as well as Flasher Public School. He graduated from there in the spring of 1956. He received his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education From Dickinson State University, his Masters Degree in Elementary Administration from Northern State University of Aberdeen, SD., and additional training from both the University of ND and North Dakota State University. He has spent forty (40) years in the field of education. During thirty-two of these years he was an elementary principal in Parshall, ND. and Mandan, ND. His teaching experience began in a rural school near Raleigh, ND and ended with retirement from the Mandan Public Schools in the spring of 1998 as principal of Lewis and Clark Elementary School.
Herman has spent much time working with professional activities and community service. He has been a part of the ND Association of Elementary Principals, the ND Council of Educational Leaders, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals to name a few. His community service includes being president of the Bismarck/Mandan Missouri Slope Areawide United Way in 1986 which was the second year of this combined organization and is serving as a member of the United Way Board of Trustees from then, to and including, now. He is a member of the Eagles Club, the Moose Club and serves as a member of the board of directors for the Mandan Golden Age Grantee Board. He has also been a member of the Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus.
In 1998, after retiring as an elementary principal, he became a member of the Mandan Lions Club and a member of the ND Retired Teachers Association. Since joining the lions, he has served as president of the Mandan Lions Club in 2002-2003, has been Zone Chairperson for District 5NW in 2003-04 and 2004-05 working with District Governors Lion Dale Ekstrom and Lion Ed Grunett. This also made him part of the 5NW Cabinet during these years. Herman is serving as Vice District Governor in 2005-06 and is learning more about being an active lion for the years ahead. As an educator the future was found in children, the adults of tomorrow. As a lion the future is found in service to others, especially children.
In 1958 Herman married Shirley Mae Sardeson, his high school sweetheart, and together they have ten children, twenty-five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Nine of their children have college and advanced degrees. They are spread across the country and all are successful in their chosen profession. Herman and Shirley have been married for forty-seven (47) years. Shirley is a member of the Mandan Dacotch Lioness Lions Club. Life is great!
