Mildred “Milly” Joan Schaefer, 94

Mildred “Milly” Joan Schaefer, 94, of Latimer, Iowa, passed away Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 14, 2023, at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer.  Visitation will be held Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer.  Burial will take place in the Marion Center Cemetery, rural Latimer.  Counsell Woodley Funeral Home of Hampton is caring for Mildred and her family.

Milly was born on August 15, 1928, in Hampton, to Joe and Freda (Grulke) Oltmann.  She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Reformed Church, rural Sheffield.  Milly attended Marion Township School through the eighth grade and then graduated from Latimer High School in 1946.  She attended Iowa State Teachers College from 1946 to 1948.

Milly began her teaching career at Shell Rock, teaching first grade from 1948 to 1950.  She met August “Gus” Schaefer, and they were married on April 21, 1950.  Milly taught kindergarten at CAL Community School District from 1968 to 1983. After she retired from teaching, she continued her service at the school through volunteer work.  

Her church and her community were very important to her. Milly was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer, where she taught Sunday school, served on the Board of Christian Education, helped with VOICE (the church monthly newsletter), and served as a deacon and elder on the church council.  She also was part of the search committee, the GO committee, and the Altar Committee.  She was active in the Latimer community by delivering meals to area homebound residents, was a member of the Latimer Park Society, and was involved with Habitat for Humanity when a house was built in Latimer.

Milly enjoyed golfing, playing cards, playing chicken foot, Tea Time with friends, reading, writing letters, traveling with Gus, and serving at church.  She loved her family and enjoyed many visits and gatherings over the years.

Milly is survived by her son Harlan and wife Sheila Schaefer of Springfield, Missouri, grandson Jacob Schaefer of Frisco, Colorado, grandson Jason Schaefer (Damaris Cuadrado Gonzalez) of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Freda Oltmann, husband Gus, brother William (Edna) Oltman, sister Dorothy (Ed) Parks, and nephews Dean Oltman, Tim Stoffer, and Rex Parks.