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Janice F. Schafer Obituary – 3/10/2011


Janice Florence Schafer, age 67, of Shelby Township, Michigan, died Thursday March 10, 2011, in Rochester, MI.

She was born March 9, 1944, in Watertown, the firstborn of Vernon and Florence Guetzkow (nee Luebke). Janice was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Mark Lutheran Church in New Germany.

She grew up on the family farm in Camden Township with three generations living under one roof. Upon her graduation in 1962 from Central High School in Norwood, she embarked on a long career of service in the retail trade.

Janice served for 19 years working in the local grocery store in New Germany, and later another 20 years as a hostess and waitress at the Family Buggy Restaurant in Rochester, MI.

Janice was married to Robert Dell Schafer, Jr. June 21, 1986, at St. Mark Lutheran Church and moved from the tiny burg of 350 residents to the metropolis of suburban Detroit to support the teaching ministry of her new husband.

Her life was one of love and caring. She used her spiritual gift of hospitality and her persistent attention to detail in the care of her home and by hosting a monthly Bible study group in her home for the past several years. She sang in the choirs of all the churches that she attended in her lifetime, and volunteered with MOPS, the Esther Circle at St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester, MI, and at Crittenton Hospital.

Janice was preceded in death by her mother, Florence Guetzkow; brother-in-law Dale Hamann; father-in-law Robert “Bob” Schafer Sr.; step father-in-law Lowell Tesch; sister-in-law Liana Clark; and nephew Alan Asmus.

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Schafer of Shelby Township, MI; father Vernon Guetzkow of New Germany; sister Karen Hamann of Hutchinson; nieces and husbands Lisa and Joe Sherwood; and Wendy and Dennis Geyen; great-niece and great nephews Madison, Connor, Nicholas and Benjamin; mother-in-law Shirlee Tesch of Winsted; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Linda and Larry Heldt of Hutchinson, Richard and Lynn Schafer of Faribault, Lila Brewer of Reno, NV, and Lisa and the Rev. Aaron Asmus of Sioux Falls, SD; many other nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.

The funeral service took place Thursday March 17 at 2 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in New Germany with the Revs. LeRoy LaPlant and Aaron Asmus officiating. Interment was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Mayer.

Visitation was Wednesday, March 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia, and continued Thursday for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Casket bearers were Joe Sherwood, Dennis Geyen, Andrew Asmus, Greg Kahler, Brian Luebke, Zachary Luebke, and Joel Schafer.

Memorial designations are LHSA and Concordia, Seward.

Arrangements were with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia; www.johnsonfh.com

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