Duane "Bear/Shafe" Schaefer

North English- Duane Harold "Bear/Shafe" Schaefer, 73, of North English, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021 peacefully at the English Valley Nursing Care Center surrounded by his family. Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 am at the St Paul's Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, the service will be live streamed on our face book page or website. Burial will be St. John Lutheran Cemetery near Homestead. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Powell Funeral Home in North English. Please practice social distancing and face masks are required. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the North English Community Center or St Paul's Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Iowa. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.


Duane was born March 14, 1947 to Raymond and Florence (Folkmann) Schaefer in Williamsburg, Iowa. He graduated from Williamsburg High School and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Iowa. He is a member at St Paul's Lutheran Church in WIlliamsburg, Iowa. He married Susan Eckhart on July 26, 1974 and they have 2 children Brad and Laura.
Duane is survived by his wife, Susan, children Laura (Bryan) Langenberg and Brad (Greer Wellstead) Schaefer, his brother Richard Schaefer, sister Judy Bush, his aunts Gladys Folkmann and Loretta Schlesselman, sisters-in-law Lynne Eckhart and Sharon (Don) Grimm, several nieces and nephews, and cousins. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Mother and Father-in-Law, Lloyd and Arlene
Eckhart, and his Brothers-in-Law Karl Bush and John Eckhart.

Duane was self-employed as a farmer in rural Millersburg, Iowa for 16 years and then as a rural mail carrier in Williamsburg for 24 years before retiring. In his retirement he was active in the
North English community serving on both the North English City Council and board of the North English Community Center, where he served as President. He also served on the Iowa County
Extension Board and served as a trustee at Trinity Lutheran Church. He was passionate about making a difference in his community and supporting his family. He had a love for traveling and sports. He was a man with a large heart that would go out of his way to help a neighbor or friend in need at any time. He will be greatly missed by those that knew him.

The family would like to thank Iowa City Hospice and English Valley Nursing Care Center for their compassion and care given to Duane and his family.