Gertrude "Trudy" Schaefer

Schaefer, Gertrude (Trudy) Lurena Foard died suddenly on January 19, 2012 at age 92 in Clearwater, Florida. She was born October 11, 1919 in Richland County, Wisconsin on the farm homestead in the Township of Orion, the daughter of the late Lurena Horne Foard and Oscar Leonard Foard. Trudy graduated from Richland Center High School in 1937 and the county Normal School in 1939. She taught in Richland County one-room schools at Woodman, Tunnelville, and Pine Valley until the end of WWII. Trudy married Martin Schaefer November 28, 1941. When Martin returned from overseas in 1946 she worked full time as a homemaker in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Trudy was a life member of the Methodist Church and a forty-eight-year member of P.E.O. In 1978 she and Martin moved to the Tampa Bay area to enjoy retirement. Trudy had many talents. Foremost was the ability to be everybody's friend, exhibiting a genuine kindness and goodness that few people can claim. She was a wonderful wife and parent. This nonagenarian was beloved by all who knew her well and charmed by all who only met her briefly. Trudy excelled at activities ranging from solving crossword puzzles to cooking.

She is survived by two sons: Martin A. Schaefer of Hudson, Florida and Alan Charles (Judy) Schaefer of Lake Barrington, Illinois; and a daughter Donna Kay Schaefer (Kent) Freeland of Morehead, Kentucky, brother-in-law Ken Schaefer of Brookfield, three grandchildren: Amy Schaefer Bartles, Andrew Schaefer, and Alan B. Schaefer; nine great-grandchildren: Matthew, Michael, Onree, Sara, Christian, Jordan, Kyle, Eddie, and Tommy; and one great-great-grandchild Avery, numerous nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents Trudy was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Martin Schaefer, two brothers Charles Darwin Foard and Ramon Foard, and one sister Donna Foard Bethke.

A memorial service will be held at The Hampton in Clearwater, Florida in the large multi-purpose room downstairs on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 3:00 p.m..

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Pratt Memorial Chapel, Richland Center, Wisconsin, with burial to follow in the Richland Center Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pratt Memorial Chapel on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. . The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements