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Lois Maxine Schaefer November 11, 1922 – May 16, 2010

 Lois Maxine (Collier) Schaefer was born the second of five children to Lela Maud (Allensworth) Collier and Roy Emery Collier on November 11, 1922 at their homestead near Imogene, Iowa. She graduated from Farragut high school in 1940. On August 1, 1942 she was united in marriage to Lowell Raymond Schaefer in Rockport, Missouri. To this union five children were born, Carl Raymond, Gerald Lee, Gwendolyn Kay, Kenneth Dale and Michael Dean. Maxine and Lowell farmed near Ellston, Iowa from 1950 to 1968 before moving to the farm southeast of Diagonal, Iowa in 1968.  Maxine enjoyed all aspects of farm life. 

Also, her love of working with her hands was reflected in the many creative keepsakes she knitted, crocheted and sewed to share with her family and numerous friends. Planting the garden and working in her flower beds were important to Maxine but if anyone made an offer for a good game of croquet or a trip to the fishing pond, she was always ready for the challenge. Besides being a dedicated homemaker, Maxine enjoyed working at Mount Ayr Cap factory and had the opportunity to teach a session of adult and continuing education crocheting and knitting classes at SWCC in Creston.

Maxine passed away Sunday, May 16, 2010, after a lengthy illness at Mount Ayr Health Care Center. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Wayne ‘Bud’ Collier and Gary Collier; mother and father-in-law, Harold Schaefer and Bernice (Madison) Schaefer; sisters-in-law, Betty Schaefer, Alberta Collier and Shirley Braaton; brothers-in-law, Eldon Ricker and Lloyd Gibson, nephews, David Main and Stuart Mott, and great-nephew, Eric Mott.

Survivors include her husband, Lowell Schaefer of Diagonal, Iowa; children, Carl (Yvonne) Schaefer of Okeechobee, Florida, Jerry (Susan) Schaefer of Creston,  Iowa, Gwendolyn Kay (Don) Jandreau of Washaugal, Washington, Kenneth (Cathy) Schaefer of Diagonal, Iowa and Michael (Karen) Schaefer of Maloy, Iowa; grandchildren, Melinda (Robert) Eubanks, Julio Gertze, Carlyn Schaefer, Carmen Schaefer, Derald (Brenda) Schaefer, Dana (Warren) Evans, Danette (Richard) Hoffman, Wendy (Tony) Baker, Nick (Kelly) Jandreau, Jon (Mindy) Schaefer, Amy Herr, Jennifer (Billy) Bell, Bill (Suzi) Schaefer and Timothy (Jennifer) Schaefer; 26 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Hazel Gibson of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Doretta Main of Portland, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Sarah Collier of Des Moines, Iowa, Thressa (Don) Willey of Creston, Iowa, and Darlene Ricker of Mount Ayr, Iowa; stepmother-in-law, Irma Schaefer; brother-in-law, Bob Schaefer of Diagonal, Iowa; half brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert (Geraldine) Wallaker, Norman (Marie) Schaefer, Lowell (Lavonne) Schaefer, Dale (Janet) Schaefer, Robert Braaton, Harlon (Bonita) Hokanson, Eugene (Barbara) Gullickson and Galen Schaefer, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Memorials are to Hospice of Central Iowa and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Arrangements were by Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr.

Services were conducted at the United Church of Diagonal on Thursday, May 20, 2010 with Rev. Bruce Giese and Rev. Eydie Stephens officiating. Musicians were Judy Newton and Bert Lockard.

Casket bearers included Derald Schaefer, Jon Schaefer, Amy Herr, Jennifer Bell, Bill Schaefer and Timothy Schaefer.

Honorary pallbearers were Melinda Eubanks, Julio Gertze, Carlyn Schaefer, Carmen Schaefer, Dana Evans, Danette Hoffman, Wendy Baker and Nick Jandreau.

  Maxine was laid at rest in the Knowlton Cemetery, Diagonal.

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