Anna M. (Marsh) Schafer (1994)

APPELL, CRAIGMILE, FOX, MARSH, OWEN, SCHAFER, THORSEN

Posted By: Ida Morse
Date: 3/29/2006 at 21:27:48

Earlham Library Obituaries
Earlham, Iowa
August 1994

Anna M. Schafer

DEXTER-A funeral for Anna M. Schafer, 94, of Hopkins, Minn. and formerly of Dexter was held Aug. 4, 1994 at Zion Lutheran Church at Dexter, with burial following at Dexter Cemetery. Mrs. Schafer died of complications of pneumonia on July 30 at Chapel View nursing home at Hopkins.

The daughter of John and Minnie Marsh, she was born in Adair County on July 13, 1900. She married Carl Schafer on Feb. 14, 1920. They lived at Dexter, Englewood, Colo. and Butterfield, Minn. Before returning to Dexter in 1944, where they ran Schafer Tavern. They returned to the Schafer family farm near Dexter in 1948, and then moved to Earlham in 1976. She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid group and she was also a member of the Twentieth Century Club at Dexter.

Mrs. Schafer was preceded in death by her parents; by five brothers, Roy, Will, Lawrence, Charlie, and Henry; by four sisters, Clara, Lee, Lil and Ruth; by her husband.

Survivors include four daughters, Margery Appell of Hopkins, Minn. Audrey Fox of Oxnard, Calif., Ruth Thorsen of Livingston, Mont. and Judy Craigmile Owen of Woodstock, Ga.; a son, Edwin of Los Osos, Calif.; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
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Funeral Card Obituary

Anna M. Schafer, the daughter of John and Minnie Marsh, was born in Adair County, Iowa on July 13, 1900. Her family moved to a farm south of Dexter where she grew up with nine brothers and sisters. Anna graduated from Dexter High School. After completing normal training, she taught country school until she married Carl Schafer on February 14, 1920.

Due to Carl’s asthma, they moved from the farm to the city of Englewood, Colorado. Anna was a homemaker raising four young children and operated a home beauty salon. In 1938 they moved to a farm near Butterfield, Minn. The birth of a daughter that same year completed their family. Anna spent some of this time caring for her aging mother in their home. In 1944 they moved to Dexter, where Carl ran the Schafer Tavern. Again, Anna was caring for an elderly parent in their home. This time it was Carl’s father who was in ill health. In 1948 they returned to the Schafer family farm south of Dexter and lived there until moving to a new home in Earlham, Iowa in 1976.

During her years as a farmer’s wife, Anna kept very busy. She made full use of the God given talents for mothering, gardening, cooking and sewing. She enjoyed family gatherings at the farm for holidays and summer vacations. Cooking for a crowd never seemed to bother her. Their farm house always had the aroma of fresh baked bread, cookies, and pies. Even harvesting dinners were very special. She planted and harvested a large garden with a variety of vegetables and flowers. Her seamstress abilities ranged from sewing flour-sack house dresses to prom and wedding dresses. She also enjoyed entertaining the family with her piano playing. Two favorite pieces were “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”, and “Let it Snow”.

Anna was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church and belonged to the Ladies Aid, which she always enjoyed. She was an active member of the Twentieth Century Club in Dexter for many years. She looked forward to frequent trips to Illinois and California to visit children, their annual Iowa State Fair Day, and playing Scrabble.

Anna and Carl shared 57 years of marriage before his death in 1977. Following complications with pneumonia Anna died on July 30, 1994 at the Chapel View nursing home in Hopkins, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Roy, Will, Lawrence, Charlie and Henry; sisters, Clara, Lee, Lil, and Ruth, her husband Carl, and a son-in-law Donald Appell.

Her survivors include daughter Margery Appell of Hopkins, Minn.; son Edwin Schafer and wife Crystal of Los Osos, California; daughter Audrey Fox and husband Gene of Oxnard, California; daughter Ruth Thorsen and husband Gordon of Livingston, Montana; daughter Judy Craigmile Owen and husband Bill of Woodstock, Georgia; 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren.

She has left many great memories with her family and friends.

Interment was in Dexter cemetery.

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