Duane 'Bear' 'Shafe' Schaefer

DUANE HAROLD "BEAR" "SHAFE"

SCHAEFER

North English

Duane Harold "Bear" "Shafe" Schaefer, 73, of North English, Iowa, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at English Valley Nursing Care Center surrounded by his family. Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsburg. The service will be livestreamed on Powell Funeral Home's Facebook page and website. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, near Homestead. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Powell Funeral Home in North English. Please practice social distancing. Face masks are required. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the North English Community Center or St. Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Iowa. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Duane was born March 14, 1947, to Raymond and Florence (Folkmann) Schaefer in Williamsburg, Iowa. He graduated from Williamsburg High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. He was a member at St Paul Lutheran Church in WIlliamsburg. He married Susan Eckhart on July 26, 1974. They had two children, Brad and Laura.

Duane is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Laura (Bryan) Langenberg and Brad (Greer Wellstead) Schaefer; his brother, Richard Schaefer; sister, Judy Bush; his aunts, Gladys Folkmann and Loretta Schlesselman; sisters-in-law, Lynne Eckhart and Sharon (Don) Grimm; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Lloyd and Arlene Eckhart; and his brothers-in-law, Karl Bush and John Eckhart.

Duane was self-employed as a farmer in rural Millersburg, Iowa, for 16 years and then as a rural mail carrier in Williamsburg for 24 years before retiring. In his retirement, he was active in the North English community serving on both the North English City Council and board of the North English Community Center, where he served as president. He also served on the Iowa County Extension Board and served as a trustee at Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was passionate about making a difference in his community and supporting his family. He had a love for traveling and sports. He was a man with a large heart who would go out of his way to help a neighbor or friend in need at any time. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

The family would like to thank Iowa City Hospice and English Valley Nursing Care Center for their compassion and care given to Duane and his family.