Donald (Don) J. Schiferl, age 96 of Lake View, IA, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City, IA, surrounded by family.
Don was born on May 28, 1920, on a farm near Crofton, NE, to Joseph and Eleanor (Poeschel) Schiferl. He attended Crofton High School in Crofton, NE. While there, he played center on the football team and was also in the school's chorus. As a sophomore in high school, Don learned to dance and continued throughout his life. He loved to dance.
While growing up on the farm, Don had many jobs including plowing and planting corn. His first paying job was “pitching bundles of grain” making $1 a day. Don also cut ice out of Lake Okoboji after moving to Milford, IA, and delivered it to customers for their iceboxes.
On March 11, 1942, during World War II, Don was inducted into the Army where he spent time in New Britain, Frechhauven, Philippines, Australia and New Guinea. He was honorably discharged on October 1, 1945, as a Mess Sergeant.
In 1947, Don married Luella Hull in Scribner, NE. Their union was blessed with two sons, Dennis and Steven. In 1953 they moved to Milford and purchased a locker plant, and after living in an apartment above the locker for several years, they built a new home just outside of town. The business treated them well all the way up to retirement.
In 1981, Don and Luella started spending their winters in Arizona. They were very active at the trailer court in Mesa, where they enjoyed dancing and park activities with the other tenants. On November 12, 1993, after a long battle with MS, Luella sadly passed away. Don took care of Luella until her passing.
Don became reacquainted with Dorothy Wolfe, a friend of his and Luella’s. Don and Dorothy married on August 30, 1996. They both loved their winter trips to Arizona. Dancing was one of their favorite activities. The two of them loved to have family and friends come down to visit. Dorothy sadly passed away on Thanksgiving day this year, up until then, the two of them resided together at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View.
Survivors include sons, Dennis (Linda) Schiferl of Rogers, MN, and Steven (Denise) Schiferl of Fremont, NE; grandchildren: Ryan Peterson of Little Rock, AR, Darrin Schiferl of Omaha, NE; step-grandchilden: Karey (Dennis Sathre) Anderson of Coon Rapids, MN, Krystal (Kory) Varilek of Fremont, NE; great-grandchildren: Jayden Elkins and James Burges of Little Rock, AR; step great-grandchildren: Asha and Drew Sathre of Coon Rapid, MN, Allie Varilek of Fremont, NE; stepchildren: Sharon (Dalton) Mason of Mesa, AZ, Terry (Judy) Wolfe of Tooele, UT, and Linda (Delbert)Elkin of Early, IA; step-grandchildren: Craig (Marla) McCoid, Corey (Tonia) McCoid, and Beth (Dan) Blum.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Eleanor Schiferl; wife Luella Schiferl; wife Dorothy Wolfe-Schiferl; sisters: Loretta Kruger, Alice Schiferl, Lola Schiferl; brothers: Duane Schiferl and Norman Schiferl.
