Clara Schaefer

Mt. Pleasant -- Clara (Friesema) Schaefer died September 15, 2011, at Walnut Grove Assisted Living.

Clara was born June 10, 1922, to Jacob and Mamie (nee: Dykstra) Friesema at the family home in rural Mt. Pleasant Township. Her early school years were spent in the local one-room school house. She spent a number of years at home caring for the family because her mother was ill. She was then employed at Western Printing, Dumore, Hamilton Beach and Dremel Mfg.

Clara was a faithful, life-long member of Calvary Memorial Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and working with the flower decoration committees. While attending outings with the Senior Singles of the church, she met Fred Schaefer. She and Fred were married on March 19, 1988, and have had 23 wonderful years together, often spending time with the family in Colorado and spending many winters in Florida.

Clara is survived by her husband, Fred; her brother, Jacob (Muriel) Friesema Jr. of Aurora, IL; and her sister-in-law Hazel Friesema. Clara has seven nieces and nephews who played a large part in her life: Tim (Marie), Lori, John (Jean), Bill (Trudy), and Mary Claire Friesema, Kay (Chuck) Smith and Jayne (Bob) Bradford. Also surviving are three step-sons: Bob (Becky), Fred, and Mark (Joan) Schaefer; two step-grandsons: Owen and Ian Schaefer, all of Racine; brothers-in-law, Ben Schaefer of Washington and, Gottlieb Schafer of Racine; and sisters-in-law, Clara Repp of Oklahoma and Ida Kaplan of Racine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Mamie Friesema; two brothers, John, killed in WWII, and Raymond, who died on May 6, 2011.

Services will be held on Monday, September 19, 2011, at 1 p.m. in the Prayer Chapel of Calvary Memorial Church, 4001 Washington Ave., with Rev. Michael A. Bullmore officiating. Friends are invited to visit from noon until the time of service. Private entombment will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be directed to Calvary Memorial Church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Walnut Grove and Hospice Alliance for their kind and compassionate care of Clara.

Wilson Funeral Home
1212 Lathrop Ave., Racine   262-634-3361