Kay Donna Schafer

July 9, 1933 - February 23, 2012

Kay Donna Schafer, 78 of West Bend passed away on February 23, 2012 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, IA. Services were held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at at Peace Lutheran Church, West Bend with burial following in the West Bend Cemetery. Visitation was held Monday, February 27th at the church. Harris Funeral Home in West Bend was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.harrisfuneralservices.com. Kay, the daughter of Theodore Jacob and Ethel Mae (Cook) Carlson was born July 9, 1933 in Mallard, IA where she was raised, received her education and graduated from the Mallard High School in 1952. She then attended AIB (American Institute of Business) in Des Moines. On June 21, 1953 she was united in marriage to Donald F. Schafer at Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend. The couple lived their married lives in West Bend. Kay worked at Schafer's Grocery in West Bend and provided childcare in her home. Later, she served as a secretary at the Area Education Agency for 15 years. Survivors include her children: Rebecca (Robert) Dykhuis of Sioux Falls, SD, Richard (Christine) Schafer of Waverly, IA, and Valerie (Glendale) Newhouse of Emmetsburg, IA, nine grandchildren: Joseph Dykhuis, Susan Frederes, Rachel Riley, Benjamin, Jacob and Hannah Schafer, Joshua Newhouse, Dacia Bruns and Nathan Newhouse; eleven great grandchildren; sister Shirley (Howard) Morey of Mallard, IA; brothers: Jack Carlson of Sioux Falls, SD, Gary (Barbara) Carlson of Anamosa, IA, and her beloved Yorkie, Bamm-Bamm. Kay was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church and volunteered at the care center. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends, quilting, playing cards, fishing, her pets, as well as following the Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings and the New York Yankees. Kay was especially proud of the fact that she played 6-on-6 girls basketball for Mallard and was an All-State guard selection in 1950 and 1952, the years Mallard made it to the state tournament. Preceding Kay in death were her parents, husband Donald in 2005, sisters Nola Coleman and Karen Moser, brother John Richard in infancy, and granddaughter Sarah Schafer in infancy.