Alice Berenice Schafer 1928 - 2017

SCHAFER, KOZLOWSKI, STROZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-volunteer (email)
Date: 2/15/2017 at 09:19:29

Sioux City Journal
7 February 2017

Alice Berenice Schafer, 88, of Onawa, Iowa passed away Friday, February 3, 2017 at Elmwood Care Centre in Onawa, Iowa.

Per Alice's wishes, cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa.

Alice Berenice Stroz was born July 4, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois. This little firecracker was the daughter of John Dennis Stroz and Bernice (Kozlowski) Stroz. She was the fourth of five children.

Alice grew up in Chicago during the Great Depression and spent several years at St. Hedwig's Orphanage in Niles, Illinois. In early adulthood, she worked in various jobs in Chicago, including Montgomery Wards and in a candy factory.

On April 23, 1948, she married Virgil H. Schafer in Chicago. A native Iowan who was in Chicago for schooling following service in WWII, Schafe and his bride returned to Iowa where he began work for the railroad and Alice began raising a family that would eventually include six children. They moved to Onawa, Iowa, in 1950 and lived there for the rest of their lives.

Alice's children were the center of her world. She was never happier than when all of them were home and making lots of noise. She and Schafe taught them to work hard, be frugal, and show respect. She was very proud of the responsible adult each one became.

Alice loved to do needlework and crafts of various types, but her passion was quilting. For many years, she was a loyal member of the "Cut Ups" quilting club in Onawa and participated in a number of quilt shows. She made many quilts for family and friends; those quilts were true expressions of love. She also sold a few quilts. As with all quilters, she never saw a bolt of fabric she didn't need- and a quilter can never have enough batting!
As a member of the Onawa United Methodist Church, Alice taught Sunday School for several years when her children were of Sunday School age, and she and Schafe helped at the church's food stand at the Monona County Fair for many years. She was also a Cub Scout Den Mother when her son was in scouting.

Alice and Schafe were able to take some wonderful trips together; among them were trips to Washington, D.C.; Hawaii; Germany; and Spain. Their home was filled with an assortment of treasured memorabilia they collected on their journeys.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Schafer, in 1997; a daughter, Mary Alice Schafer Kuss, in 2015; her parents, John and Bernice Stroz; and four siblings, Cornelia Stroz Ropeck, Fabian William Stroz, Robert Stroz, and John Dennis Stroz.

Left to cherish her memory are brother-in-law, Donald Schafer; children, Debra (Greg) Reiman of Cedar Rapids, IA, Diane (Randy) Pendarvis of Peoria, IL, Denise (Kevin) Singler of Rising Sun, IN, Dolores (Cliff) Cagle of Oklahoma City, OK, and John Schafer of Onawa, IA; son-in-law, Rodney Kuss of Steele, ND; grandchildren, Kirk Reiman, Garth Reiman (daughter Kali), Lauren Pendarvis, Ryan (Jennifer) Pendarvis, Adam (Jacqueline; daughter Josephine) Pendarvis, Yolanda (Rachid; children Yasseen, Zakariya, Ismael, Nooh, Esa, and Ibrahim) Driouech, Megan (Jack; children Vaughn and Vance) Delrymple, Melissa Singler (children Delanie and Leighton), Natalie Wheeler (daughter Aiyunis), Sakie Wheeler (children Elizabeth, Noah, and Andrew), David Wheeler, and Fawn (Derek; children Xoey and Frederek) Byers.

Alice was always greatly concerned about the welfare of children. Accordingly, her family asks that memorial donations be made in Alice's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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