Shaeffer, Swan Ernest (1881-1944)

SHAEFFER, PETERSON, BERGGREN, FERLEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Stratford Courier
Sept. 14, 1944

SWAN E. SHAEFFER, A FORMER BUSINESS MAN HERE, DIED TUESDAY

Swan E. Shaeffer, 63, died early Tuesday morning in the county hospital in Webster City where he had been a patient for about three weeks with a heart affliction.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon in the Foster funeral home, Webster City, at 2 o'clock after which the remains will be brought to the South Marion cemetery. The casket will be opened at the cemetery for friends who care to view the remains.

A son of Tilghman and Anna [Ferlen] Shaeffer, he was born on a farm south of Stratford, Jan. 22, 1881 and moved to town with his parents when he was a year old. He was educated in the local school and for years was connected with the T.H. Shaeffer & Sons general mercantile firm and later with the firm when it became Shaeffer Bros. Co. and was operated by he and his brothers.

He was united in marriage with Miss Esther Peterson of Slater on June 30, 1915 and they came to this place to make their home, residing here until 1937 when they moved to Webster City which has since been their home and where Swan was engaged as a clerk in several mercantile establishments.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Harriett Berggren of Stanhope, a son, Robert Shaeffer, Ph. M. 1|c, who is stationed at the navy hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. Three brothers also survive. They are: C.F. Shaeffer of Denver, Colo., J.L. Shaeffer of Stratford and F.O. Shaeffer of Ragged Mountain, Colo.

The many friends in Stratford of the surviving relatives extend to them their sincerest sympathy.

Stratford Courier
Sept. 21, 1944

Last rites for a former townsman, Swan E. Shaeffer, were held in the Foster funeral home in Webster City Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. Paul Johnson of Odebolt, a former pastor of Calvary Methodist church here. Mrs. J.L. Wilke of Webster City, the former Helen Swanson of Stratford, sang two songs at the service. The remains were brought here and interred in the South Marion cemetery and were viewed there by a number of friends from this community. Casket bearers were Tom Hakes, L.R. Anderson, F.T. Ferlen, A.A. Deo, Frank Poulson and Chas. O. Erickson, all of Stratford.

Swan E. Shaeffer, son of T.H. and Anna Shaeffer, was born on the then Shaeffer farm south of Stratford, Jan. 22, 1881, and at his death on Sept. 12, 1944, was 63 years, 7 months, 20 days old. He moved into Stratford with his parents a year later and was educated in the local school after which he entered active work in the general store operated here by his father. Practically all of his earlier years were spent in the store for upon the retirement of his father from active business the store was taken over by the sons and carried on for a great many years as Shaeffer Bros. Co.

On June 30, 1914, he married Miss Esther Peterson and they established their home here where their two surviving children, Robert Shaeffer, Ph. M. 1c, now stationed in a navy hospital in Philadelphia, Penn., and Harriett Berggren of Stanhope, were born. The bereaved wife and mother also survives. Three brothers are also left to mourn, C.F., of Denver, Colo., J.L. of Stratford, and F.O. of Ragged Mountain, Colo. In 1937, the family moved to Webster City where Swan had been employed as a clerk in several stores.

The sympathy of the community is extended to the bereaved wife, children and other relatives.

Operated Shaeffer Bros. Store in Stratford with his brother, John Shaeffer.