Gisela Schaefer

Gisela Schaefer, 91 of Arcadia, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on December 10, 2020.

Gisela was born in Germany on July 24, 1929, to Herman Erdmann and Hildegard Tullmann. Gisela grew up in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1955. She spent one week traveling to the states by ship where they encountered a severe storm. Once arriving to New York, she traveled to Wisconsin by plane. She later met her husband Francis after replying to a Catholic newspaper ad. On February 27, 1960, Gisela married Francis J. Schaefer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Arcadia. They shared 54 years of marriage before Francis’s death in 2014 where he remained in her heart until the day she died. Together they raised six children: Diane (Tom) Servais, Dinah (Mark) Korpal, Patrick (Lynn Sylla) Schaefer, Roger Schaefer, Francis (Pam) Schaefer, and Dawn (Stacy Stiehl) Schaefer. Together they enjoyed family gatherings, traveling to visit family and friends, shopping trips, and Sunday drives. Gisela enjoyed knitting baby blankets for her grandchildren and others, gardening, and baking an abundance of German Christmas cookies. Her yard was always full of flowers and indoors pants were abundant. For many years she was a daycare provider for local children. Francis and Gisela were blessed with a large family. Family always came first. They spent endless hours with their children and grandchildren.

Gisela is survived by her children and 16 grandchildren: Naomi (John Wiench) Servais, Nadine Currier, Nicholas (Jennifer) Servais, Melissa (Patrick) Schock, Miranda (Walter Rice) Korpal, Holly Korpal, Hilary (JP) Kupietz, Sydney (Joel Schmitt) Korpal, Desirae Schaefer, Skye Schaefer, Alex Schaefer, Cayla (Justin Kolve) Edmison, David (Victoria) Schaefer, Ariel Schaefer, Richie Cook and Shawn Stiehl, 21 great grandchildren: Gillian, Kyana, Emma, Nolan, Kamerin, Allaina, Amayah, Owen, Elizabella, Evannah, Emmett, Adrian, Josephine, Olivia, Walden, Natalie, Parker, Victoria, Isaiah, Caleb, and Ariana.

She was preceded in death by her husband Francis J. Schaefer; parents; and great-grandchildren: Gavin Servais, Landon and Talon Currier.

A private family mass of Christian burial was held December 11, 2020 at Holy Family Parish, Arcadia, with Reverend Kyle N. Laylan officiating.  Burial will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in rural Arcadia. The family would like to acknowledge the staff of St. Croix Hospice for the loving care she received, with an extra special thank you to Jo Jo Aspenson and Mickki Prussing.  To express condolences to her family online, please visit www.wozneykillianfh.com.