RAY SCHARA

SCHROEDER, SCHARA, VANWEY, SCHWINEFUS, STRIEN, WATERS, MADSEN KIVILAAN, ROSS, GILBERT

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/12/2002 at 21:23:09

RAY SCHARA

November 07, 2002
Postville Herald-Leader newspaper

Funeral services for Ray Schara were held Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 10:00 A. M. in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, Iowa. The Reverend Dave L. Lenth officiated. Special music was provided by Ron Schara and Kim Schutte, with Marlys Hager as organist. Casket Bearers were: John Schwinefus, Jeff Schwinefus, David Anfinson, Gary Anfinson, Curtis Strien, Richard Schara and Honorary Casket Bearers were: Wayne Timmerman, Loren Koenig, Leon Everman. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Postville Cemetery.

Ray Edward Schara, the son of Fred C. Schara and Jennie (nee Schroeder) Schara, was born March 23, 1915 at Clermont Junction, near Postville, Iowa. He passed away Sunday, October 27, 2002, in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa. He had reached the age of 87 years, 7 months, and 3 days.

He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith. He attended the rural schools near his home.

Ray was married to Lila Van Wey on June 3, 1936. They were the parents of a son, Claude. They were divorced, and Ray married Verla Cleora Schwinefus on January 21, 1941, in the West Clermont Lutheran Church at Clermont, Iowa. To this union, two daughters were born, Sharon and Sandra. They farmed northwest of Postville on the Fred Meier farm. After ten years of farming, they moved to Castalia, where Ray and Verla owned and operated the Skelly Oil Company. On January 1, 1968 they moved to Postville to their home on Lull Street.

Ray was a very muscially gifted person, and he used this talent to entertain family and friends. He enjoyed fishing as well. He sold his home on Lull Street and moved into Grand Meadow Glen, where he often played the piano for the other residents following lunch. Ray lived there until September 17, 2002, when he became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Postville.

Ray was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, where he served on the Church Council. He had also been a member of the Castalia KEWS, and the Bloomfield Historical Society. Ray had served on the City Council in both Castalia and Postville. He was also the town weather reporter for the Postville Herald newspaper.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Verla, who died in 1995, a son, Claude, two brothers, Harlan and LaVern, and a sister, Verla Strien.

Surviving are two daughters, Sharon and husband, Thomas Waters of Grand Coulee, WA, and Sandra and husband, David Madsen of Brentwood, TN; seven grandchildren, Gregory (Denise) Waters, Richard (Kathleen) Waters, Laura (nee Madsen) and husband, Aleks Kivilaan, and Amy (nee Madsen) and husband, Steven Ross, Richard (Lisa) Gilbert, Daniel (Monica) Gilbert, and Charley (Daphne) Gilbert; 15 great grandchildren, Zachary Waters, Benjamin Waters, Brittany Waters, Jessica Kivilaan, David Kivilaan, Zachary Ross, Noah Ross, Andrew Gilbert, Jeremiah Gilbert, Megan Gilbert, Gerard Gilbert, Brandon Gilbert, Ethan Gilbert, Gillian Gilbert, and Mason Gilbert.

Also surviving are two brothers, Charles (Donna) Schara and Kenneth (Eva) Schara, all of Austin, MN, other relatives and many friends.

Postville Herald-Leader 2002