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Schaefer, Raymond William Carl
Raymond William Carl Schaefer died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Mercy Iowa City in the hospice unit at the age of 95 years. Celebration of Life services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsburg. Pastor Carl Cloeter will officiate. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery near Homestead. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg.
Ray was born June 28, 1916, in South Amana, Iowa, the son of Henry and Maria (Huedepohl) Schaefer. He was baptized on June 30, 1916, and confirmed April 13, 1930, all at St. John Lutheran Church near Homestead. He attended St. John Parochial School. Ray was united in marriage to Florence Anna Catherine Folkmann on Jan. 28, 1940, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy. Together they lived and farmed near Williamsburg.
After his retirement he enjoyed caring for his lawn on the farm. Ray was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, where he held numerous church offices. He was on the St. Paul school board during the construction of the original L.I.S. building project and enjoyed playing dartball.
After experiencing a broken hip Ray became a resident at the English Valley Care Center in North English.
He is survived by three children, Richard “Dick” Schaefer of Williamsburg, Judy Bush of Cedar Rapids and Duane (Susan) Schaefer of North English; four grandchildren, Mike Bush and David Bush of Cedar Rapids, Laura (Bryan) Langenberg of West Branch and Brad (fiancee Jamie Patterson) Schaefer of St. Petersburg, Fla.; three brothers-in-law, Merlin Folkmann and Raymond Folkmann, both of Williamsburg, and Richard Folkmann of Newhall; and a sister-in-law, Loretta Schlesselman of Williamsburg.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 1998; three brothers, Clarence, Art and Harold in World War II; a sister, Nora Schaefer; and a son-in-law, Karl Bush.
Memorials are for St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lutheran Interparish School or Iowa City Hospice.
Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.
The family would like to thank the English Valley Care Center in North English and the Iowa City Hospice, Mercy Group for their excellent care of Ray and support of the family.
Published Feb. 26, 2012 in The Gazette
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