Shirley A. Schaefer, 72, New Bremen, died at 2:30 p.m. June 26, 2011 at Lima Memorial Hospital.

She was born June 28, 1938, near Wapakoneta, to Aldo and Helen Lunz Elsass. On Sept. 8, 1962, she married Dale Schaefer, who survives.

Also surviving are daughters, Brenda (Craig) Siefring and Donna (Gary) Schmitmeyer, New Bremen; sisters-in-law, Judy (Don) Gehle, New Bremen, and Lois Schaefer, St. Marys; and three granddaughters.

Deceased is a brother, Wayne Elsass.

She was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, New Bremen, and had been church organist for the St. John's Lutheran Church in Fryburg for many years. She was a 1956 graduate of Wapakoneta Blume High School.

She had worked at Nationwide and American States Insurance companies, both of Lima, and at Crown Equipment Corporation of New Bremen and had retired from Schwieterman's Pharmacies. She was also a longtime aide for Serendipity Preschool in New Bremen.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul United Church of Christ, the Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Burial will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.

Calling is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Gilbert-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, and 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Memorials may be made to the church memorial fund or the New Bremen Historic Association.