In Memory of Michael A. Schafer

Michael A. Schafer, age 79, formerly of Ames and Sibley, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2021, at the Care Haven Homes of Overland Park, KS.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy will officiate. A Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Committal Services for Michael and his wife, Mary Jane, will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

A Facebook Live of the memorial mass will be available on the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Christensen-Van-Houten-Funeral-Homes-381323435333828.

Michael Anthony Schafer, 79, was born on August 13, 1942, in Le Mars, IA. He grew up on a farm and attended Gehlen Catholic Schools in Le Mars, graduating in 1960. After high school, Mike attended St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN. Mike played on the basketball team at St. Mary’s for one year and graduated with a B.S. in Business in 1964. Later he received a M.S. in Guidance & Counseling and a Specialist Degree in Education from Mankato State University.

After college, Mike’s first teaching job was with the Ocheyedan School District, where he taught elementary school from 1964-1966. It was during this time period that he met his future wife on a blind date, Mary Jane (Webster) Schafer.

Mike and Mary Jane "MJ" married on September 3, 1966, and then made their home in Sibley, where Mike worked from 1966-1989 in many facets of the Sibley Schools. Mike served as a middle school teacher, elementary and middle school principal, coach of football, basketball, track, and golf, guidance counselor and athletic director. 

During their 23 years in Sibley, the couple raised their 3 daughters and made life-long friendships. Mike especially enjoyed his fellow teacher and administrator friends, golfing every Saturday morning and going on golf trips in the spring.  He was active in the Catholic church and his faith was an important part of his life. Over the years, Mike was involved in Rotary Club, Iowa Guidance Association, National High School Coaches Association and School Administrators of Iowa Association.

In 1989, Mike and MJ moved to Boone, where Mike served as the Athletic Director with the Boone Community Schools for 5 years.  He finished out his career in education as the Superintendent at Charter Oak-Ute Schools. 

Throughout his years in education, Mike impacted many students, athletes and colleagues. He was the Iowa Girls High School Golf Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1985, having coached the Sibley girl’s golf team to back-to-back State Championships, with two of his daughters on the team. Mike was also a National Golf Coach of the Year Nominee in 1986, and he was the Iowa High School Athletic Director’s Association--Northwest Iowa Athletic Director of the Year in 1992. In 2001, Mike was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Director’s Association Hall of Fame.

Mike enjoyed all sports, and was an avid Iowa State Cyclone and Iowa Hawkeye fan. Favorite memories of Mike’s were his trip to the Master’s Golf course in Augusta, Georgia, with his golf buddies and a fishing trip to Canada with his Sibley friends. He also had great times at Manhattan Beach in Lake Okoboji, card club with Sibley friends, travelling with his family, and later in life, spending quality time with his six grandchildren, whom he spoiled and adored.

In 1998, Mike and MJ moved to Ames when Mike retired. Retirement brought more time to golf and spend time with the grandkids.  In 2017, Mike and MJ moved to West Des Moines to an Assisted Living facility. Mike spent many years caring for MJ as her Alzheimer’s progressed.  He was completely devoted to her care, never leaving her side. Mike and MJ celebrated 53 years of marriage in 2019. After MJ’s passing, Mike moved to Overland Park, KS, in 2020, into a memory care home, receiving specialized care for his cancer and dementia.

Mike died peacefully on October 24, 2021, at Care Haven Homes in Overland Park, Kansas. He will be forever missed by his daughters Jill (Kent) Godbersen of Ida Grove, IA and children Reed, Carson and Morgan; Molly (Jeff) Cleven of Cumming, IA and children Tyler and Hannah; Amy (Sean) McGrevey of Overland Park, KS and children Danica (fiancé Rich Dodd), Megan and Erin; his siblings Betty (Joel) Hagler of Huntington Beach, CA; Tom Schafer (JP Jones) of Linden, VA; all the Webster relatives and 24 nieces and nephews. 

Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane (Webster) Schafer; parents Richard and Rita (Dreckman) Schafer; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou and Norman Walker.