SHIRLEY A. SCHAEFER, 72, of 4807 St. Rt. 274, New Bremen, OH died Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 2:30 P.M. at Lima Memorial Hospital, Lima, OH. She was born June 28, 1938 near Wapakoneta, OH, the daughter of Aldo and Helen (Lunz) Elsass. On September 8, 1962 she married Dale Schaefer who survives near New Bremen. Also surviving are her daughters Brenda (Craig) Siefring and Donna (Gary) Schmitmeyer, both of New Bremen; her granddaughters Lauren Hohler, Amy and Kelli Schmitmeyer, all of New Bremen, her sisters-in-law Judy (Don) Gehle of New Bremen and Lois Schaefer of St. Marys. Preceding her in death were her parents and her brother Wayne Elsass.

Mrs. Schaefer was a member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen. She was a 1956 graduate of Wapakoneta Blume High School. She formerly had been the church organist for the St. John's Lutheran Church in Fryburg for many years. She had been employed at various businesses through the years, including the Nationwide and American States Insurance Co. both of Lima, Crown Equipment Corp. of New Bremen and had retired from the Schwieterman Pharmacies after close to 30 years of employment. She was also a longtime aid for the Serendipity Preschool in New Bremen.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday June 29, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Burial will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen. Calling hours will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 from 4 until 8 P.M at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen and on Wednesday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the services at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church memorial fund, the New Bremen Historic Association or to the charity of the donor's choice.