Dale Schafer
Dale W. Schafer, age 95, of Owen, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Vita Care Living in Abbotsford, under the tender care of Heartland Hospice.
A private graveside service will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Pine Hill Cemetery in Curtiss. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at the Curtiss Alliance Church with Pastor Carl Swarr presiding. The honor of pallbearers belongs to Brian, Benjamin, Andrew, Nathan and Aaron Leiby, and Stephen Aiken. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.
Dale was born on September 13, 1929 in Pittsfield, 111., the son of Julius and Nellie (Peer) Schafer. His mother passed away when he was fifteen months old and his father raised him and his brother and three sisters. He was the youngest so he said he had to raise himself a lot of the time. He graduated in 1948 from Pittsfield High School and worked on some farms, he then went to the University of Illinois for a year before joining the Army. He was stationed in Germany for two years. When he was discharged he returned to working on the farm where he met a local school teacher, Margie Lou Kirkman. They married on June 11, 1955. He then went back to school and graduated in 1958. He loved farming so he became a herdsman on several farms in northern Illinois. In February of 1976, he lived his dream of owning his own farm when he moved to Curtiss. He loved working with cows and studying the Select Sires book. He worked on the farm until he was 90 and health issues no longer allowed him to enjoy his farm.
He was a member of the Clark County Farm Bureau, serving as president for four years, as well as a member of the Curtiss Alliance Church, serving on the board for over 30 years.
Dale is survived by his two children: Sharon (Lester) Leiby of Dorchester and Stephen (Kelly) Schafer of Curtiss; nine grandchildren: Brian (Laura) Leiby, Benjamin (Tara) Leiby, Andrew Leiby, Nathan (Cassie) Leiby, Christine (Stephen) Aiken, Aaron (Heidi) Leiby, Leyla (Valentin) Molner, Michael Schafer and Grace Schafer; 12 greatgrandchildren: Kaitlin, Natalie, Evan, Darren, Parker, Caleb, Jihun, Maya, Evelyn, Lachlan, Michaela, Matthew, James and Cooper. He is further survived by other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margie in 2021; his sisters: Mildred, Maxine and Aleene and a brother, Lyndle.
The family would like to thank Heartland Hospice and Mary, as well as the aides at Vita Care for their care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Curtiss Alliance Mission of CAMA fund, Pacific Garden Mission or Samaritan’s Purse.
Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.
http://www.maurinaschilling.com
Paid obituary 166540
