Sylvia Schafer

Sylvia L. Schafer age 81 of Greene, IA, died Monday morning, February 11, 2013, at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2013, at St. John United Church of Christ-Pleasant Hill, in rural Nashua, with Pastor Laura Hucke presiding. Interment will be in Willow Lawn Cemetery, Plainfield, IA, with Dale Schneider, Melissa Schneider, Scott Schilling, Michael Pothast, Jennifer Pothast and Chad Hinz serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 15, 2013, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Sylvia Lydia Schafer was born January 5, 1932, on the Schilling family farm near Plainfield in rural Bremer County, IA, the daughter of Louis and Lydia (Scheidecker) Schilling. She received her education in Plainfield and graduated from the Plainfield High School in 1950. It was while she was in high school she met the love of her life, Lyle Schafer. Lyle had been enlisted in the United States Navy when the couple were married at St. John UCC Church-Pleasant Hill, on September 26, 1953. The couple lived a short time in California until Lyle was honorably discharged at which time they began farming near Charles City. In 1960, the couple moved into Charles City and then in 1964 made the permanent move to their current home in Greene. While raising her three sons, Sylvia worked for many years at Dralle's Department store in Greene. She was an active member at St. John UCC Church having sung in the choir and served with the women's fellowship. She enjoyed needle work, making quilts for her grandchildren and sewing. She had a passion for her flower garden and loved growing roses. She was also a member of the Greene Legion Auxiliary. The precious moments she had were when she could spend time with family and she will be remembered by them as the picture-taker. Sylvia and Lyle also enjoyed many trips to see family in Colorado. Survivors include her husband, Lyle; three sons, Calvin (Jani) Schafer of Bailey, CO, Merlin (Tammy Hain) Schafer of Mason City and James (Corey Head) Schafer of San Francisco; one brother, Frederick Schilling of Waverly; eight grandchildren, Merrille (Chad) Hinz, Cherilyn Schafer, Bill Schafer, Aubrie (Isaiah Egan) Schafer, Toby Schafer, Daniel Schafer, Ricky Schafer and Brooke Hain; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents