SCHAFER, John A. 1855-1929

SCHAFER, LOOFF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/3/2013 at 12:22:46

John A. Schafer Was 73 Years Old

John A. Schafer died Saturday morning, April 20, 1929, at 9 o'clock, at his home in Wellsburg.

The cause of death was uremic poisoning following an illness of about four weeks.

His general health had been affected for years by kidney trouble, but he kept up and about till almost the very last.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the Wellsburg Reformed church, Rev. Wm. Landsiedel officiating, and was largely attended by old residents of this and nearby communities.

The pall bearers were: William Knock, Thos. Akkerman, Sr., William Lindaman, Henry Olthoff, Harm S. Meyer and John Meints.

Interment was made in the Wellsburg Reformed church cemetery.

Among those present at the funeral from abroad were: Rev. John Schafer, of Parkersburg; John Loof, Monroe, South Dakota; Arend Cobie and Menno Meints, of Ackley; Mrs. Chris Schafer and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schafer and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Rhoads, of Grundy Center; and Mr. and Mrs. Heiko Siebrandts, of Holland.

Obituary
John Schafer was born August 29, 1855 at Campen, Ostfriesland, Germany. When a boy 10 years of age, he came with his widowed father to America in 1866, and lived a few years in the vicinity of Freeport, Ill. He moved in 1868 to Iowa, living on the farm in Shiloh township, two miles east of Wellsburg.

The deceased was joined in holy wedlock to Hiska Looff in the year of 1880, and established his home on the farm of his father, who had passed away.

God blessed their union with seven children, of whom the oldest, the late Mrs. Ida Aalfs, of Michigan, at the age of 40 years, and a little girl in infancy, both preceded him in death.

He was engaged in business in Wellsburg for five years, later returning to the farm.

For about 20 years he suffered with kidney trouble, which gradually caused him to retire from farm life, and he again moved to Wellsburg in 1916 where he spent the eve of his life.

For the last year his health was failing and he needed continual medical attention.

About four weeks ago he became confined to the house, but apparently rallied from his illness. On account, however, of successive attacks of his old ailment, his vitality became exhausted until he succumbed to his old malady last Saturday, April 20th, at 9:00 o'clock, at the age of 73 years, 7 months and 21 days.

The Lord in boundless mercy granted him the blessing to depart in peace, sharing the hope of eternal life.

Besides the sorrow-stricken wife, he leaves to mourn, his three sons, Arend and John, of Wellsburg, and Henry, of Lincoln Center; two daughters, Jennie and Tena, of Wellsburg; and four grandchildren.

May the God of all comfort assuage the wounded hearts and prepare them to meet a blessed end.

Funeral was held Tuesday, April 23d, at 1:00 o'clock at the house and services were held later at the church by Rev. William Landsiedel, having his sermon on Hosea 6:1. Interment was in the cemetery of the Wellsburg Reformed church.

Card of Thanks
We wish to express to all our friends and neighbors our deep appreciation of their many kindly acts of sympathy and assistance during the illness and death of our beloved husband and father, and our thanks for the many beautiful floral offerings. We sincerely thank one and all.
Mrs. John A. Schafer and Children

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 24 April 1929

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John A. Schafer Dead

John A. Schafer, one of the early residents of this county, died at his home in Wellsburg Saturday morning at nine o'clock. He had been sick but two weeks with kidney trouble.

Mr. Schafer was born in Eastfriesland, Germany, on August 29th, 1855. He would have been 74 years old on his next birthday. When he was thirteen years old he came to America with his family. For a year they lived near Freeport, Illinois, and sixty years ago they came to Grundy county where the deceased lived continually until the time of his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Schafer were married 49 years ago on the 4th of last March. The ceremony was performed in the Colfax township Presbyterian church by the late Rev. VanderLas. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer resided on different farms in Colfax and Shiloh townships until they moved to Wellsburg thirteen years ago.

Besides the wife, Mr. Schafer is survived by five children, three boys and two girls. The boys are Arend, John and Henry. The girls are Jennie and Tena. Those of the children who are not at home live near here. Mr. Schafer had two brothers, Henry and Christ. The oldest, Henry, died several years ago. The youngest, Christ, passed away on the 17th of last October.

Funeral services were held at the Reformed church in Wellsburg Tuesday afternoon with the local pastor, Rev. Landsiedel, officiating. The pallbearers were Wm. Lindaman, W. E. Knock, Tom Akkerman, Sr., Henry Olthoff, H. S. Meyer and John Meints.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 April 1929, pg 3