Mike, born March 15, 1950, is a native of the Ellston, Iowa area. Son of Lowell and Maxine SCHAEFER currently [1987] of Diagonal, Iowa, he has farmed in Ringgold and Taylor Counties for 17 years after graduating from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1968 and vocational welding training at Southwestern Community College in 1969. Mike served his country in the National Guard for seven years.

Karen was born May 5, 1951, and is a native of the Clearfield area. Daughter of the late Leonard A. SOBOTKA and Venita S. SOBOTKA SCHMIDT of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, Karen has been a full-time homemaker and farm wife until 1983 when she became employed at the Ringgold County ASCS office in Mount Ayr. She graduated from Clearfield Community High School in 1969.

Mike and Karen were married at the First Christian Church at Clearfield June 7, 1969. They moved to the Diagonal and Mount Ayr area for three years, then moved to the Maloy area in 1974 on the Eleanor and late George CAVENDER farm north of Maloy, where they enjoy the peace and quiet of rural life.

Jennifer Jo SCHAEFER was born February 14, 1971, at the Ringgold County Hospital. She is a member of the sophomore class at Mount Ayr. Jennifer enjoys volleyball and keeping stats for the boys basketball as well as the academics of school. She is a member of the Maloy Shamrocks 4-H Club and the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.

Billy Joe SCHAEFER was born April 24, 1973, at Greater Community Hospital in Creston, Iowa. He is a member of the eighth grade class and enjoys football, wrestling and track. Billy also likes the great outdoors and is a member of the Maloy Shamrocks 4-H Club and the First Christian Church.

Timothy Michael SCHAEFER was born May 17, 1977, at the Greater Community Hospital in Creston, Iowa. He is in the fourth grade at Mount Ayr Community Shcools. Tim likes wrestling and all outside sports. He enjoys farming with his dad and loves to care for animals. Tim is a member of the Maloy Shamrocks 4-H Club also.

The entire SCHAEFER bunch likes horsebackriding, frisbee throwing, playing baseball and pursing all water-connected activities together.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 164.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011