Margaret Schaefer

Margaret C. "Marge" Schaefer, age 87 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, September 14, 2015 at Cherrywood Assisted Living in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 18 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11a.m. Friday at the church in Melrose.

Margaret Catherine Schneider was born November 7, 1927 in St. Joseph, Minnesota to Henry and Mathilda (Stengel) Schneider. After attending Paynesville High School she worked as a nurse's aide at the Melrose Hospital. On August 29, 1949 she married Otto Schaefer at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Her greatest joy was raising her children and spending time with her family. In her younger years, Marge enjoyed roller-skating and dancing at the New Munich Ballroom which her dad built. Throughout her life, she was a passionate gardener, an avid reader, and an expert seamstress for her family.

She was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101, Daughters of Isabella Joan of Arc Circle of Melrose #568, Gold Star Mothers, co-founder of St. Mary's grief support group, and a Girl Scout Leader.

Survivors include her sister, Donna Schneider of St. Cloud; children, Michael (Debbie) Schaefer of Dallas, TX, Margo (Ron) Shebeck of Underwood, Jean Schaefer of Burnsville, Mary (Tim) Quick of St. Cloud, and Dan (Maryanna) Schaefer of Falcon Heights; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Otto Schaefer on August 1, 1998; son, Thomas Schaefer in 1984 and infant son, Mark Schaefer in 1956; sister, Lorraine Sanders; and brother, LuVerne Schneider.

Serving as honorary bearers will be the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tom Schaefer Senior Research Fellowship in Physics.