Marian Shafer

Marian Shafer, 93, formerly of Waukon but most recently living with her daughter in Clifton, VA, passed away December 24, 2021 of a heart attack at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 11 at 1 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ in rural Waukon with Pastor Sue Klimstra officiating.

Friends may greet the family one hour before services Tuesday, January 11 at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Masks are required. The service will also be live streamed on Martin-Grau Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Marian Ruth Shafer was born October 28, 1928 on the rural farm of her parents, William and Emma (Schroeder) Koenig, near Castalia. She was baptized at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church and confirmed in 1942 by Rev. Frederick Ludwig in Postville. She remained a member until joining Salem United Church of Christ in 1952, where she belonged to the Salem Women’s Fellowship. She attended Oak Hill School in Winneshiek County and graduated from Postville High School in 1946.

January 22, 1947, Marian married Ray Shafer at the Little Brown Church in Nashua; to this union, a daughter, Mary Rae, was born. Marian loved farming side by side with Ray on their farm six miles west of Waukon, living there for 57 years before moving into Waukon in 2005. She enjoyed all the animals, gardening, picnics, boating and traveling.

Marian spent the holidays in Virginia with family and enjoyed her four great-grandchildren. This spring, she sold her house in Waukon and permanently moved to Virginia to live with her daughter, Mary.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary Rae (Mike) Sarelson of Clifton, VA; two grandchildren, Lisa (Mike) Evans and Lori (Chris Reed) Sarelson; four great-grandchildren, Kyla, Max, Brandon and Cara; a sister-in-law, Pat Koenig; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, in 2003; two sisters, Charlotte Henning and Chrystal Longerbeam; two brothers, Orville and Merlin Koenig; and two nephews, Mark and Randy Koenig.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.