Delores Schafer

Delores Marie Schafer, age 96, of Winona, passed away on Monday, December 23, 2019, at Sauer Healthcare in Winona, where she had been a resident for the last 3 ½ years.

She was born on December 10, 1923, in Ridgeway, MN, to Ralph and Leona (Reisdorf) Belter.  At the age of 16, Delores graduated from Lewiston High School and began attending Winona Teacher’s College (now Winona State).  Due to the death of her mother, Delores was needed at home and to help raise her little brother, Ralph, Jr.

On March 6, 1943, she was united in marriage with Alvin Schafer at the St. Rose of Lima Parsonage in Lewiston.  Alvin and Delores lived in Warren Township for six years, before settling in Wiscoy Township for 41 years, where they farmed.  In 1990, they retired from farming, and moved to Winona.  Alvin passed away on April 16, 2012, and Delores continued to live in their home in Winona, until she moved to Sauer.

Delores loved to crochet, knit, and making all kinds of crafts.  She liked going to rummage sales, playing cards, fishing, gardening, and she never met a stranger.  Over the years, she filled many pint and quart jars with home grown vegetables and meats.  She was well-known for her famous homemade sauerkraut.  She was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilson, the Wilson Homemakers Club, and many card clubs.

Delores is survived  by her children: Dale (Linda Ehlers) Schafer, New Richmond, WI; Shirley (Mike) Francis, Winona; and Jean (Chuck) Egland, Luverne, MN; 11 grandchildren: Bryan (Kathy) Schafer, Brent (Robin) Schafer,  Brad (Kristy) Schafer, Ron and Lonnie Schafer, Roger Rott, Robin (Joel ) Lewis, Rhonda Hofer, Tanya (Troy) LeJeune, Tina (Jose) Larios, and Tenecia (Thomas) Sullivan; 18 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law: Lorraine Belter; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; son, Gary; daughter, Marlene; brother: Ralph, Jr.; her parents; and a son-in-law, Carl Rott.

Visitation will be held from 4 PM until 8 PM on Friday, January 10, 2020, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, and again at the funeral home on Saturday, January 11, 2020, from 10 AM until the funeral service at 11 AM.  The Reverend James Renz will officiate.  Delores will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Delores’ grandsons, and the honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Delores’ family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.