In Memory of Wilma D. Schafer

Wilma D. Schafer, age 89, of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 5, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Reverend Chad Lierman will officiate. Burial will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 4, 2015 at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home 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 to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Wilma D. Schafer was born on May 29, 1926 on the family farm South of Galva, Iowa, to Roy and Lenora (Joslin) Nippert. She made her home on the family farm until the family relocated to Cushing, Iowa. Wilma attended Cushing High School and graduated with the class of 1943.

After high school, Wilma went to work for the telephone company in Ida Grove, Iowa, where she worked as a telephone operator until 1950.

Wilma was united into marriage to Donald L. Schafer at the United Methodist Church of Storm Lake, Iowa, on June 26, 1950. The couple made their home in Ida Grove, Iowa, and were blessed with three children: Vicki, Mark, and Craig.

Wilma delighted in being a stay at home mother but liked lending a helping hand at the families downtown furniture store (Schafer’s Furniture).  She enjoyed cleaning, baking, sewing, cooking, flower gardening, and scrap booking just to name a few. Wilma especially loved spending time with her great grandchildren and cherished her family.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Lenora Nippert; infant son, Mark Schafer; and great granddaughter, Jillian Grace.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 65 years, Donald L. Schafer of Ida Grove, Iowa; daughter, Vicki (David) Will of Sioux City, Iowa; son, Craig Schafer of Ida Grove, Iowa; grandchildren: Matthew Will of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Eric Will of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jodi (Adam) Lansink of Ida Grove, Iowa, Jamie (Seth) Corbin of Ida Grove, Iowa; five great grandchildren: Ellie, Maila, Brylie, Blake, and Kendra; brother, Eldon (Vicki) Nippert of Cushing, Iowa; and extended family and friends.