Harold George Schaefer, 17 Jul 1926 - 12 Jan 2022

SCHAEFER, BURGY, OLSON, CROSS, DAVENPORT, KELLY, RATHJEN

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/20/2022 at 13:57:14

Harold George Schaefer, 95, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Conroy, Iowa, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022. A visitation will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 17, 2022, at First Lutheran Church, 1000 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, with Pastor Craig Brown officiating. Burial: First Lutheran Church Cemetery in Conroy, with military rites. Livestream link: https://firstlutherancr.online.church/

Harold was born July 17, 1926, in Conroy, the son of Karl and Paula (Burgy) Schaefer. He attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Hilton Consolidated School in Conroy. Harold also attended Kirkwood Community College (formerly Iowa Business College) and Coe College. He served in the United States Army from 1944-1946 during World War II. Harold was united in marriage to Joyce Olson on September 18, 1947, at First Lutheran Church near Conroy. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Harold worked for Buresh Rental and International Harvester, served as Cedar Rapids City Clerk from 1959-1972, Commissioner of Accounts and Finances from 1972-1990, and ended his career at Allen Motor Company. Hal was always so proud while on the city council that Cedar Rapids had a AAA Bond rating.

Harold was the past President of Iowa Municipalities Officers Association, Iowa League of Municipalities, and the South Side Civic Club. Harold served on the board of directors for the Metropolitan YMCA, Ellis YMCA, Cedar Rapids Convention Bureau, and Cottage Grove Place. He was a Boy Scout Institutional Representative, a member of the VFW, American Legion, Mizpah Lodge, Knight Commander 32nd Degree Consistory, El Kahir Shrine, High Twelve Club, Jesters, Color Guard, Camelots, and Traveling Men’s Club. Harold was a past exalted ruler of the ELKS. He loved to golf, travel, and play cards.

Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Joyce Schaefer; children, Rev. Jeffrey Lee (Debra) Schaefer of Reno, Nevada, and Jill Ann (Greg) Cross of La Quinta, California; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews; as well as special family friend, Hilda Pivaral.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Paula Schaefer; sister, Helen Davenport and husband James Davenport; brother-in-law, William Olson; and in-laws, Myron and Kathleen Rathjen and Raphael and Betty Kelly.

Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or Elk’s Lodge #251.

Please share a memory of Harold at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette on January 15, 2022.