Larene Schaffer

Larene Doris Schaffer was born March 14, 1925 in Cumberland, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas Chester and Sophia Methilda (Behnken) Chester. Larene passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She had reached the age of eighty-eight years, nine months, sixteen days.
Larene attended Cumberland High School, obtained a teaching certificate through Iowa State Teachers College and later in life attended two years of college at Southwestern Community College in Creston Iowa.
Larene was united in marriage to Donald Schaffer of Carbon, Iowa on July 8, 1946, and later divorced. Three children were born to this union: Roger (Dorothy) Schaffer of Loveland, Colorado, Barbara Aruso of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Sally Schaffer (Rhonda) of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The family lived in Adams County farming and later moved to Corning. Larene worked for United Airlines after graduating High School, was a rural grade school teacher, waitressed in Corning, worked at Ardan’s after moving to Des Moines and retired in Des Moines from Amoco BP in 1997. She sold her home in Des Moines in 2013, and moved to Minneapolis to live with her daughter, Sally Schaffer and Rhonda Smith.
She was a former member of the Adams County Extension Council, former VFW Auxiliary member, and attended Fairview United Church of Christ in Christ.
Larene is survived by her son, two daughters, five grandchildren: Dawn McClain (Bill), Kevin Schaffer (Katy), Jillian Findley (Klint), Wayne Schaffer, and Jessica Schaffer; nine great-grandchildren: Lacey, Cassie, Douglas, Grace (Bea), Ellie, Emma, Felicity, Athena, and DeLeon; sister-in-law Marjorie Rockwell and brother-in-law, Robert of Yuma, Arizona, sister-in-law, Lucille Schaffer of Casper, Wyoming, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Larene was preceded in death by her parents: Thomas and Sophia Chester; three brothers and one sister, Lawrence, Elwood, Gilbert, and Arlene.
Larene arranged for cremation of her body. Her family will have a graveside service at Prairie Rose Cementary in her memory at a later date at which time family and friends are welcome.