March 29, 2024

William Schafer

Prescott

William D. “Bill” Schafer, 88, died Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Corning Specialty Care in Corning.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Monday, June 19, at Prescott United Church in Prescott with the Rev. Mary O'Riley officiating. Inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Prescott. Military honors will be provided by Corning American Legion, OURCQ Post No. 117. Visitation with family present will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday, June 19, at the church. Memorials may be directed to Prescott United Church. Pearson Family Funeral Service and Cremation Center, 701 Seventh St., in Corning is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

William “Bill” Dean Schafer, son of Roy “Foxy” Fredrick and Mildred Francis (Ginn) Schafer, was born Aug. 29, 1928, in Stringtown in Adams County. He attended Lenox High School and Cromwell High School where he graduated with the class of 1948. Bill served his country as a veteran of the Korean War from Sept. 11, 1954, until his honorable discharge March 24, 1955. Following the war, he ran a tiling machine and backhoe for 10 years for Franklin Kinkade in Creston.

On Aug. 25, 1956, Bill married Wilma Coleen Coleman in the Methodist Church in Prescott. They started their farming operation near Prescott following Bill’s work for Kinkade Industries. Bill raised hogs and cattle and grew hay, corn and soybeans.

Bill was a member of Prescott United Church and former member of Prescott American Legion.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Wilma of Prescott; children, Sheila (Kirk) O’Riley of Lenox, Rick (Julie) Schafer of Prescott, Kevin (Crystal) Schafer of Prescott, Karen (Dan) Carl of Corning and Dennis Green of Osceola; grandchildren, Clint (Becky) and Jared O’Riley, Wendi (Jason) Boswell and Allison King, Drew, Bryce (Abbey) and Cole Ray Schafer and Dray and Kallyn Carl; eight great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Leatha Archer, Janet (David) Guthmiller, Anne (Jim) Kesterson and Wilma Mae Schafer of Mount Ayr; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his grandson Brett Schafer; parents; mother- and father-in-law, Merna and Chris Coleman; brother Bob Schafer; sisters, Lois Ann Swanke and Helen Jo Schafer; brothers-in-law, Toby Wilber and Bill Brown and sister-in-law LuLu Brown.