Schaefer, Jane A. 1926-2021

SCHAEFER, POTTS, VIEMANN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/3/2022 at 13:43:51

Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home (source)

OBITUARY
Jane A. Schaefer, 95, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Rev. Christian Meier will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Born in Allentown, Missouri, on April 22, 1926, the daughter of John Adam and Mary Lezetta (Viemann) Potts, Jane grew up on the family farm with her parents and older sister, Emily. Jane attended a one-room country schoolhouse in Hollow, Missouri, until the eighth grade. Jane continued to help on the farm until she moved to St. Louis where she worked as an administrative assistant. William Nicholas Schaefer, a handsome serviceman who had recently returned from service in Europe with the United States Army Air Forces offered to buy her a lemonade at a local fair but then had to ask Jane for the nickel to complete the purchase. Despite the awkward beginning, Jane and Bill were united in marriage on June 15, 1946, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood, Missouri.

Together, Bill and Jane raised three children, June, Shirley, and Steve, all of whom claim to be her “favorite” child. Jane, along with Bill, believed in the value of putting in a good day’s work, supporting family, and always having a good book in-hand, traits that were passed along to the next generations of family members. Jane held a variety of jobs in her lifetime. After Bill passed, Jane came out of retirement to take on one final career with the Le Mars Walmart store, where she worked as a greeter from age 80-86. Jane will be remembered for her smile, her love for sewing and quilting, her fierce devotion to family, and her homemade applesauce.

She is survived by her three children, June (Emmet Dell) of Le Mars, Shirley (Alan) Rowold of Naples, FL, and Steve (Rita) Schaefer of Madison, GA; six grandchildren, Angela (Mark) Catton of Le Mars, Hope (Craig) Johnson of Clive, IA, Amy (Mark) Newkirk of Colorado Springs, CO, Adam (Heather) Ferguson of Highlands Ranch, CO, John (Rebecca) Rowold of Berlin, Germany, Ashley (Tanner) Swenson of Rochester, MN; seventeen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents John and Mary Potts; her sister, Emily Underwood; and her husband, Bill.