Margaret A. Shafer, age 99, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 8:20 PM on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville, Illinois. She was born June 16, 1924 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Fredrick and Maria Carolina Dorthea (Oge) Lenz. She was reared and educated in the Biggsville area and attended school there. On May 11, 1941, Margaret married Clifford E. Shafer in Kahoka, MO, and he preceded her in death on January 13, 2009.
Margaret worked for several years at Foreman’s Bookbindery here in Monmouth. She later worked at Farm King, also in Monmouth. Lastly, she assisted her husband in their business, Shafer’s Upholstery, a long-time furniture upholstery business in Monmouth. Margaret was past-president of the Senior Travel Club, a long-time member of the First Christian Church, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. She loved music, and taught herself how to play the piano and organ and took part in a Community Minstrel Show. Margaret loved flowers and gardening, reading, sewing, quilting, and serving others.
Margaret is survived by two daughters, Jane McNally of Bolingbrook, Illinois and June (Ron) Podschweit of Batavia, Illinois, two sons, Lee (Carol) Shafer of Athens, Illinois and Larry (Kenda) Shafer of Temple, Texas, nine grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Clifford, four siblings, David Lenz, Mary “Jane” Stewart, Charles “Doc” Lenz, and Jack Lenz, and one granddaughter, Korin Morris.
A funeral service for Margaret Shafer is planned for 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service. Interment will be at Warren County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus, Galesburg, Illinois. For more information, or to leave a remembrance of Margaret, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.
