Catharine Schafer

***Due to Covid-19 and public health mandates in Iowa, Visitation and Funeral services will be limited and masks are required *for all* guests, with social distancing of 6 feet apart in place.*** Visitation will begin Saturday, December 12th, at 11:30 AM followed by the Funeral at 1:00 PM. Due to the limitations of Covid-19 we are limited for both, and only allow the same guests from the Visitation to the Funeral Service. The service begins Saturday, December 12th, at 1:00 PM. For those who would like to watch the broadcast of the service Live, go to link http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/desmoinesiowamountpisgahstake Following services' conclusion there will be a procession from The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Waukee, to Oak Dale Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. The family has welcomed everyone to meet in the church parking lot and drive in the procession, to the graveside service which has NO limitation due to Covid-19; however masks will still be required. Everyone is Welcome! Catharine Ann Schafer, 46, passed away December 8th, 2020 at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa due to a heart condition. Catharine Ann Schafer was born December 4th, 1974, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Steven C. and Cathy A. (Hadley) Schafer. Catharine graduated from Adel DeSoto High School in 1993 and attended Upper Iowa University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 1999. She was working towards furthering her education and was one class away from her Master's Degree with a Reading Endorsement and other emphasis in Elementary Education. She began her career working with the Des Moines Public School System, starting at Monroe Elementary. More recently she had been teaching 1st through 4th graders at King Elementary. She worked for DMPS for almost 22 years. Catharine loved tutoring students, especially those children that are disadvantaged, and had learning difficulties. Ms. Schafer always could use her bold teacher voice, handling any classroom with grace. She was brilliant and had a very creative mind. She was kind, loving, patient and funny. She loved getting lost in her reading, watching Hallmark Movies all year long, and researching online her family's genealogy, family history, and taking pictures of headstones for Genealogy research. She was a lover of any bags, had a stylish eye for clothing by the truckloads, and "just browsing" on Amazon.com. She was so excited at Christmas time, helping put together the Church Christmas Programs with the children. Every year Catharine and her family would perform "Operation: Secret Santa" selecting one of Catharine's students families' that were in need or just needed a little extra Christmas Cheer. They would secretly drop off wrapped gifts tailored to the family chosen, ring the bell and run!!! Catharine loved her family, church family, friends, and kids, including the love of her life, Paris Avery, the Standard Poodle, which everyone knows of course because Paris went everywhere with Catharine, Valerie and Mackenzie. She is survived by her parents, Steve and Cathy Schafer, sister, Valerie Schafer, brothers and sister-in-law’s, Matt (Kelly) Schafer, Joe (Jackie) Schafer, and Dan (Amber) Schafer, her sweet nieces and nephews, Mackenzie Schafer, Liam and Eli Schafer, and Kasey, Will and Jackson Beasley-Tyrrell; along with many aunts, uncles and extended family members. Catharine was preceded in death by her Grandparents Gerald and Maxine Schafer, Earl Hadley, Nellie and Earl Collins, and Aunts and Uncles, Gerald Schafer, Paul Schafer, Cindy "Sue" Hadley, and Richard Hadley. The family would like to send a special thank you to Tray and Tammy Thomas and Kim and Kathy Chapman. A big thank you to Catherine’s brothers Matt, Joe, Dan and the expert craftsmanship of Tray Thomas for creating her one-of-a-kind casket that was built with their sweat, love, and tears over the past few days. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to the family. A children's charity that Catharine would have loved to help will be decided by the family at a later date. Cards and Memorial contributions can be mailed to: The Schafer Family 1941 2nd St SW Altoona, IA 50009 Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com