A funeral will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 for 88-year-old Joan M. Schaefer of Ruma, Illinois, who passed away at 3:34 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024 at her residence surrounded by her family.
She was born November 10, 1935 at St. Clement Hospital in Red Bud, Illinois, a daughter of George and Agnes (nee Hess) Degenhardt, who both preceded her in death.
She was baptized by Msgr. Fred Witte at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ruma on November 14, 1935 and her sponsors were Henry A. and Natalie Hess.
Joan married the loved of her life, Clarence J. Schaefer, on November 17, 1956 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud, Illinois; he preceded her in death on January 23, 2013. After 11 years apart, they are together again dancing across heaven.
She is survived by five children: Michael (Jeannie) Schaefer of Red Bud, Ill., John (Kim) Schaefer of Ruma, Ill., Edward (Shirleen) Schaefer of Hecker, Ill., Raymond (Kari) Schaefer of Red Bud, Ill. and
Karen (Martin) Eschmann of Waterloo, Ill.; 12 grandchildren: Jeremy (Sarah) Schaefer, Amy (Russell) Humphreys, Jenny (Eric) Raup, Stacy (Fred) Morin, Eric Schaefer, Ryan (Holly) Schaefer, Carrie (Aaron) Koester, Jamie (James) Ratz, Allen (Kayce) Schaefer, Andrew (Carrie) Schaefer, Emily Eschmann, and Nathan (Caroline) Eschmann; 25 great-grandchildren: Peyton, Dylan, and Taylor Schaefer, Ethan and Owen Humphreys, Mason and Maple Raup, Molly and Melanie Morin, Landon, Lakin, and Lance Schaefer, Brayden, Grace, Blake, and Jase Koester, Carson and Shelbie Ratz, Addison and Hudson Scahefer, Luke, Emma and Logan Schaefer, Bryce Eschmann, and Nora Schaefer.
Joan was devoted to her family. She enjoyed planning family parties, and cherished spending time with her family and holding the babies.
Boxing Easter eggs was a family tradition.
Joan could make family history interesting and come to life with storytelling. It was very important to Joan that her family understood their ancestry and always enjoyed giving history lessons.
This is evident in the Degenhardt Cousins book. She was instrumental in getting it published.
She was a contributor to the Randolph County History Book.
She was involved in the planning of the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Joan was an avid quilter both at church and at home. She shared her love of quilting by presenting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with quilts for special occasions.
Joan was a farmwife who enjoyed all of God’s nature. She loved being surrounded by flowers, plants, and growing crops. She also enjoyed antique tractors and tractor pulls.
Joan will be remembered by many as a leader of the Ruma Roadrunner’s 4-H Club, a position she held for 35 years. She was inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame, Class of 2008.
She was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball fan.
She worked at Geo D. Bernard Printing Co. in St. Louis and then at First State Bank of Red Bud. Later in life, she worked at Town & Country Gas as the office manager in Chester, Illinois.
Joan was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, St. Patrick’s Quilters, Council of Catholic Women, Health Circle, and Randolph County Farm Bureau.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2024 and 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois.
A funeral mass for 88-year-old Joan M. Schaefer of Ruma, Illinois, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ruma, Illinois. Officiating: Msgr. Dennis Schaefer
Interment will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Ruma, Illinois
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Cemetery Fund or St. Patrick’s Quilting Fund.