Barbara (Kruse) Schafer

BARBARA SCHAFER

BRIGHTON – Barbara (Kruse) Schafer, 85, passed away on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jerseyville.

She was born in Wood River on November 13, 1932, one of five children born to the late Gotlieb and Ada (Bloomer) Kruse.

The family later moved to Jerseyville, where Barbara graduated with the class of 1950 from Jersey Community High School.

While in activities of the Jersey County Rural Youth, Barbara met her husband to be, William “Bill” Schafer of Brighton and the two married on October 10, 1954 at the First Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville.

They resided on the farm in Piasa Township where they raised their three children, Gary, Kenneth and Diane.

While Barbara’s career might be listed as a “housewife”, this term does not convey all the roles she played for her family and in the community.

Though the chores of taking care of the family included helping with home butchering, vegetable gardening, canning fruits and vegetables and raising three children, she still made time to be active in church activities at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Brighton where she served as Youth Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher, Adult Choir member, Women’s Guild and participated with a Married Couples Devotional Group – all activities using her talents of singing, sewing and teaching. She was also a member of the Jersey County Homemakers Association for over 50 years; an active member of the Jersey County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, where she assisted in safety and commodity promotions; as well as Superintendent in the Culinary Department for the Jersey County Fair.

She also managed to make time for her hobbies, which included quilting, embroidery and cooking, for which she won several trophies at the Jersey County Fair for her baking and canning achievements.

Surviving are three children, Gary Schafer of Brighton; Kenneth (Barbara) Schafer of rural Jerseyville and Diane (Tony) Fessler of Dow; three grandchildren, Anna and Ben Fessler of Dow and Samantha Schafer of Jerseyville; two sisters, Elaine (Bill) Thiel of Carrollton and Sylvia McMaster of Oneida; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Schafer; a sister, Mary; a brother, Henry; as well as numerous aunts and uncles.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, November 9 at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday with family friend, Rev. Ray Robinson of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Shipman, officiating.

Burial will take place at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association.

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