Bernice Schafer

Bernice M. Schafer, 93, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 11th, at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing, IA. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Bernice Mae Schafer was born February 29, 1924, in Lansing Township, rural Lansing, IA, the daughter of Fremont William and Clara Agnes (Lenz) Bauman. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1941, and attended Waukon Jr. College. On December 24, 1942, she married Claude Schafer at the Presbyterian parsonage in Lansing. They farmed together in Center Township where they had 200 acres and raised crops, dairy cows, hogs, and CAPONS. Bernice also raised and sold AKC registered collies.

Bernice was a member of First Presbyterian Church where she had a lifetime membership in the UPW (United Presbyterian Women). She also served as a deacon, elder, and youth leader. Bernice could play the piano by ear and volunteered to play for church services and at the Good Samaritan Center and Northgate Care Center. She enjoyed working in her vegetable garden, canning, freezing corn and beans, sewing, quilting, and baking-especially pecan pie and bread. Bernice and Claude enjoyed dancing especially waltzing. She and Claude enjoyed traveling and she kept a daily journal of what they did on their trips.

Survivors include her loving and devoted husband Claude Schafer of Waukon, IA; children: Claudia (Jay Fotland) Newton of La Crescent, MN, and Clarice (Michael Czora) Pettingill of Golden Valley, MN; two grandchildren: Sara (Michael) Jones and Brian (Jessica) Pettingill; five great-grandchildren: Elsie, Josie, and Caleb Jones, and Charlee and Leah Pettingill; a nephew LeRoy Opfer; and many great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; a sister Dorothy Opfer; and two nieces Shirley Eggett and Darlaine Opfer.

Honorary casketbearers are the members of the United Presbyterian Women. Casketbearers are Brian Pettingill, Michael Jones, Lynn Stock, Patrick Troendle, Ryan Troendle, Randy Van Ruler, and Jim Wedo.

The family would like to say thanks to ABC Healthy Living Home Care, Good Samaritan Center Staff, and St. Croix Hospice for all of the wonderful care they gave Bernice.