Arlene Esther Schaefer was born October 7,1925 to Clarence and Mable (Resh) Meck at their farm home near Freeport, Illinois, the fourth of five children. She died May 30, 2020, in the care of Hospice of the Valley. She was preceded in death [2011] by her husband, Marlin, whom she married June 1, 1946, her 2 older brothers, Mervin and Howard, and her older sister, Martha [Sieber] and her son-in-law Patrick Locy [2018]. Her younger sister, Ethel [Jim] Schmucker, of Archbold, Ohio is the last surviving sibling.
Arlene attended a one-room country school for 8 grades with one teacher. There she began a life-long love of reading and nature. In 1942 she graduated from Dakota Community High School as valedictorian of her class, at age 16. She worked as a nanny/housekeeper for a summer and then began working at Micro Switch in Freeport. There she met Marlin whom she married after he returned from military service. She also held positions as receptionist/bookkeeper in a doctor’s office, as an accounting clerk in several small offices and income tax firms and in Accounting for General Electric’s Computer Division. For several years, she also typed income tax forms for two CPAs. The purchase of a home computer fostered an interest in genealogy/family history, writing and desk-top publishing. She compiled 4 large books of genealogy and family history, plus compiled Q&A about her and Marlin’s childhoods and wrote 3 books of “Memories” for their grandchildren. Other interests were camping, sewing, emailing, word and math puzzles, Scrabble, card games and jigsaw puzzles.
At age 11, Arlene became a member of the Freeport Mennonite Church where her family was active. Through her teen and adult years she sang with her sister Martha and later with women from the church in a sextet, The Chapel Singers. She and Marlin helped with a mission church planting in the Freeport area. When Marlin and Arlene with 3 children moved to Arizona in 1959, they joined the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church and in 1962 joined with a small group to start Trinity Mennonite Church. For 35 years, Arlene taught school age and senior adult Sunday School classes. She became the first Trinity woman to be elected to a position on the Board of Elders, and served a term as WMSC Secretary for the Southwest Mennonite Conference. For many years, she and Marlin volunteered at the Oasis Thrift & MCC Self-Help store.In 2002, she and Marlin moved to an independent living apartment at Glencroft Retirement Community. She was able to continue independent living after Marlin’s death, until 2019 when she moved to Assisted Living on the Glencroft campus.
Arlene is survived by her and Marlin’s 3 children: Jim [Dianne], Bob [Carol], and Carolyn Locy.
Also surviving are Jim & Dianne’s children and grandchildren: Susan [Steve] Peltier – Breeana, Andrew, Tyler Debra [Gunnar] Axlid – Erik, Daniel, Lukas Jon Schaefer – Alisha, Leanna
and Bob & Carol’s children: Michelle Schaefer and Tim Schaefer.
She was well loved by all who knew her and especially by her family. She was quick to say she was grateful and blessed to have a loving family.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Mennonite Central Committee [MCC], P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501.
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