Schafer, Dorothy A.

Dorothy A. Schafer, 87, was reunited with her husband on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by her family. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with interment in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Father Keith Birch will officiate at the service. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Dorothy is survived by her son, James (Coco) Schafer of St. Marcus, Calif.; two daughters, Carol (Paul) Adams of Peoria, Ill., and Sandi (Jan) Byers of Monticello; four grandchildren, Jeremy Byers, Gretchen (Jeremy) Kisling of Marion, Julie (Glen) Allen of Seattle, Wash., and T.J. (Bridgette) Schafer of LaCosta, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Tessa, Rachael, Zander and Zachary; and her sister, Frances Kula of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis; parents, John and Mary Laban; brothers, John, Andy and Tony Laban; and sisters, Marella Gravel and Vivian Althoff.

Dorothy was born Dec. 12, 1924, in the Garryowen/Bernard area, the youngest daughter of John and Mary Laban, immigrant farmers from Yugoslavia. The family relocated in the 40s to Prairieburg, Iowa. Dorothy met Louis at the Great Jones County Fair and they married June 18, 1946. They farmed near Langworthy and started a family. They relocated to an acreage in the 70s, then to town in Monticello in 1983. When Louis passed away in 1985, Dorothy devoted her life to her children, grandchildren and friends. Dorothy was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Dorothy was an avid “Cookie Maker” which won her the tag of COOKIE LADY. No one left her home without a plate or bag of cookies. She enjoyed having friends in, playing cards and an occasional trip to the boat. Her door was always open to visit and reminisce with friends old and new.

Dorothy's legacy is her limitless kindness, devotion to family and appreciation of life, which she tried to instill in her children and grandchildren.

Dorothy will be greatly missed by her family and all who were blessed to have her in their lives.