Jean Lillian Schafer

Jean Lillian Schafer  age 86, formerly of Lamberton, MN died on January 11, 2025, at The Timbers of Apple Valley.

Visitation will be on Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield Chapel. Service will be held at Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield Chapel, on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11:00 am. The clergy will be Pastor Cathy Hoffbeck. Interment will be at Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye, MN. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, Minnesota.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Jean Lillian Schafer was born February 21, 1938 in Sleepy Eye, MN to Rueben and Lillian (Meinert) Schneider. She attended Sleepy Eye Public School. After graduation she attended beauty school and began a career as a hairdresser, an occupation she continued long after she had a family and moved her life to Lamberton, MN. She was united in marriage to Gary Schafer on June 30, 1973 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Missoula, MT. The couple made their home in Missoula where Gary drove truck until they moved their family of five children to Rosemount, MN where he continued to haul lumber. Jean and Gary moved to Lamberton in 1978 to farm. Though they worked the farm together, when Gary was on the road, Jean - no matter the season - took on the responsibilities of the farm work and taking care of the livestock. Jean enjoyed traveling with Gary in their fifth wheel throughout the year, especially to destinations out west and to Arizona during the winter months. They also made jars of homemade maple syrup from their many maple trees on the farm. These were often shared with family and friends. In addition to the love of her life, Jean’s greatest joy was her family - especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who immediately brought a bright smile to her face.

Jean is survived by her children - Steve (Kim) Schafer, David (Priscilla) Schafer, Randy (Ari) Schafer, Kim Tranby, and Tim (Sheila) Schafer;  grandchildren - Aimee (Randy) Best, Alison (Marc) Erickson, Nicole Gossman, Brittanie Schafer, Kayla (John) Schafer-Lewis, Tyler Jay Schafer, Travis (Sarah) Tranby, Taylor Tranby;  great-grandchildren - Lilyana, Annalyse, Matthew, Grace, Antonio, Eli, Nora, Ryker, Aracely, Lennox; and brother Roger (Cindy) Schneider and sister Janice (Bill) Maas. Jean was preceded in death by husband Gary; parents Rueben and Lillian; her sister Joann Deterling; and Kim’s husband Ole Tranby.