Bernice Schafer
Bernice M. Schafer, 93, of Waukon died Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial was at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing.
Bernice Mae Schafer was born February 29, 1924 in Lansing Township, rural Lansing, the daughter of Fremont William and Clara Agnes (Lenz) Bauman. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1941 and attended Waukon Junior College.
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; her 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 were the members of the United Presbyterian Women. Casketbearers were Brian Pettingill, Michael Jones, Lynn Stock, Patrick Troendle, Ryan Troendle, Randy Van Ruler and Jim Wedo.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
