21 Things You Might Not Know About Me: Mike Schafer

Editor's Note: Mike Schafer will be our guest on this Friday's Facebook Live show so we are re-posting Mike's "21 Things You Might Not Know About Me" which was originally published in June of 2017 on DrydenWire.com.

This week's '21 Things You Might Know About Me' features Spooner Health CEO, Mike Schafer.  Mike submitted more than 21 things, but we liked them all so much that we couldn't pick which wouldn't make the cut (we definitely could not remove #15).  So, here are 25 things you might not know about Mike.

1. I was born, raised and graduated high school in Jamestown, ND.  I am the second of four children with an older brother (now deceased) a younger brother and sister.  My dad died in 1996 and my mom still lives in the same house I grew up in.
2. My first job was as a circulation specialist with the Jamestown Sun-yes, I delivered a daily newspaper to around 100 homes in my neighborhood.
3. Growing up I also had jobs as a busboy and a pizza chef.
4. When I was six or seven years old I met Twins future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.  My older brother Scott answered the doorbell, announced to my dad that our neighbor Mr. Brown was here with some guy he claimed was Killebrew and proceeded to leave the room.  He did not believe that it was actually Killebrew.  The adults got a good laugh out of it and we were able to visit with him in our living room and get his autograph.
5. In high school, I lettered in three sports (hockey, cross country and golf) and sang in the concert choir my senior year.
6. I swore I would never live in such a small town again (population 17,000) and since graduating from college have never lived in a town larger than Spooner, and I love it.
7. Graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Hospital Administration and Political Science.
8. Spent 3 summers of college working at Red Willow Resort, where as the Recreation Director I ran youth and adult softball leagues and tournaments, youth baseball tournaments, and umpired hundreds of games each summer.
9. In college, my favorite TV show was Days of our Lives, which we watched every day at lunch time my last two years.  At first I made fun of my roommates who would watch, but eventually found myself asking what was going on with Bo and Hope.  I’m embarrassed to say my tastes have now evolved to reality shows (Amazing Race, Big Brother, cooking competition shows, etc).
10. My first post-college job was as the Administrator of a hospital/nursing home in Culbertson, MT, population 880 at 22 years old.  I also served as the Administrator of Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, MN prior to taking my position at Spooner Health in 1990.
11. After getting to know my future wife Karina, she informed me that we had met once before and she was wondering why she was “introduced to that old guy”.  Karina married that old guy approximately 10 months later, on New Year’s Eve 1992.
12. Prior to moving to Spooner my main hobby was softball, playing on two or three teams every summer.  After moving to Spooner, I started playing golf again.  Since my kids have been so active I seldom golf anymore, but am looking forward to playing more in future years.  I have also enjoyed road biking the last few years.
13. My recent hobbies revolve around my children.  I have coached youth hockey, baseball, football and softball at some point over the last 15 years.  I enjoy seeing the success of all those I have coached, both in their sports and in other areas.  I am now able to enjoy witnessing the success the older ones are having with their lives now that they are out of high school. 
14. I officiated high school and youth hockey for 17 years and high school football for 27 years.
15. One of my main goals in life is to meet Ben Dryden face to face.  We have talked on the phone and texted, but I am so intimidated by the awesomeness that is his aura that I have yet to summon the courage.
16. I completed my Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Minnesota in 2003.  During that time Karina had our 3rd child, we put an addition on our house and I maintained my full-time job.
17. The one thing in life I am most proud of is my children.
18. Brady graduated from St. Scholastica in Duluth in May and will be attending medical school at the University of Minnesota Duluth starting in August.
19. Tanner just finished his Plebe (first) year at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.  It has been a life-long goal of his to attend the Academy.  He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle on Karina’s side and become the third generation of naval aviator in the family.
20. Jordan just finished her freshman year in high school and is very active with volleyball, softball, dance and choir.
21. We also had my oldest nephew Matt live with us for his last two years of high school.  It was interesting to have a teenager in the house at the time our oldest was approximately 6 years old.
22. My mom and dad are both in the North Dakota Amateur Softball Hall of Fame and my dad is in the United States Softball Hall of Honor, for his work in 30+ years as the North Dakota Amateur Softball Association commissioner.
23. I love my job as the CEO of Spooner Health.  The most rewarding thing about the job is working each day with the 150+ employees of Spooner Health.  I am honored to work with such caring and dedicated people.
24. The planning and construction of the new hospital was among the most difficult challenges I have faced as a healthcare administrator but also very rewarding.  I am so proud of what we have created to ensure the availability of high quality healthcare for the residents of this area.
25. I like to travel.  I have been to 40 states, Canada, Mexico, and 7 countries in Europe. Two of my most memorable trips revolve around my interest in history, particularly military history.  The first is my trip to Europe last summer with Brady, where we visited many WWII sites, with the Normandy beaches and cemeteries being a highlight.  The second is a family vacation to the east coast in 2015, where we visited Annapolis, Philadelphia, Boston and Gettysburg.