Myrle Vincent Schafer, 97, passed on May 17, 2014 from complications of pneumonia. He was born in Dysart, Iowa , on July 18, 1916 to Julius Conrad Schafer and Catherine Elizabeth Schnell Schafer. Following his graduation from Dysart High School in 1935, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly. In 1937, he graduated from Salsbury's School of Poultry Disease, and began working for several poultry hatcheries in Iowa, vaccinating chickens and checking for diseases.
On August 14, 1942, Mr. Schafer was inducted into the Army Corps of Engineers and served his country as a clerk typist and a postal clerk during his European tour of duty in WWII. He was discharged in 1946 and received a good conduct medal and a bronze star.
Myrle was the first veteran of WWII to return home to his community and establish a business in Toledo, Iowa. He operated a poultry, egg, and cream buying station, as well as a Kent feed business for 37 years. He married Evelyn Houdyshell, a schoolteacher, on July 3, 1951, and they were married for 53 years until her death in 2004. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo, the American Legion for 68 years, and the VFW of Tama, Iowa.
Mr. Schafer enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal daily, working in his yard, fishing, and traveling. Survivors include his daughters, Lou Ann Pieper (Rand) of Carmel, IN, Sue Ellen Schafer (the late Roger Higginbotham) of Toledo, IA, granddaughter, Alisha Wood (Chris) of Carmel, IN, sister, Beverly Schafer Zimmerman of Toledo, IA, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Marvin Schafer, sisters-in-law Elsie Schafer and Mary Lou Houdyshell Norton, brothers-in-law Frank Zimmerman and Jim Norton, nephew Kent Zimmerman, and niece Linda Lou Norton.

Visitation will be held at Kruse Phillips Funeral Home in Tama on Friday, May 23 from 5:00-7:00 p. m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church Worship Center, Toledo, IA. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, IA, with full military honors by the Toledo American Legion.
Myrle will be missed but will live in our hearts forever. The family would like to thank Eagle Creek Rehab of Indianapolis, IN for the care and devotion they gave him during his four-year-stay. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences can be made to Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home at www.kruse-phillips.com