Karen Kay Schaeffer

Karen Kay (Bauder) Schaeffer was born in Scotland, SD on January 2nd, 1950 to William and Violet (Wudel) Bauder. With her unwavering faith in our LORD, she entered the gates of Heaven on June 25th, 2024 at the age of 74 in Yankton SD. 

Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Friday, June 28 at Goglin Funeral Home in Yankton. Her funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29 at Goglin Funeral Home. Visitation resumes at 10 a.m. until funeral time. Interment is planned for 1:30 p.m. at Saron Reformed Cemetery, rural Menno.

She attended Clear Lake School until 8th grade, then transferred to Scotland High School where she graduated in 1968. Karen married Stanley Schaeffer on October 5th, 1969 in Scotland, SD. They lived their entire married life on the farm southeast of Menno, SD. To this union 4 children were born. 

Karen wore many hats in her life. She worked at Gurney’s in Yankton. When Karen and Stanley started their family, Karen was a full-time farm wife and a stay-at-home mom. She enjoyed processing chickens for many summers with Lois Kirschenman and her children. In October of 1989 she started at the Menno Olivet Care Center where she began in the laundry department, then became a CNA, doting on the residents any chance she could and continued there as a dedicated employee and caregiver until February of 2024. 

She enjoyed gardening. At times it was a very large garden and she enjoyed canning many different items over the years. In her spare time she also did a lot of crafting. She created many types of keepsakes for family and friends to treasure. Karen and Stanley also took every opportunity to attend their grandchildren’s activities, traveling near and far to take it all in. 

Karen is survived by her husband, Stanley of 54 years; children: Renee (Dan) Harter, Minatare, NE, Robin (Clint) Nelson, Colome, SD, David (Katie) Schaeffer, Yankton, SD and Sarah (Bradon Richardson) Tucker, Cleora, OK; grandchildren: Dalton (Baillie) Harter, Daci Harter, Dani (Kalvin Perry) Harter, Lilly (Christian Postma) Nelson, Ryder Nelson, Anjeliena, Sawyer, Nicholas, Oliver, Kinleigh and Sloane Schaeffer and Dalani (Bryan Le) Tucker; great-grandson: baby Harter arriving in November; brother, Chris Bauder, Tyndall SD; sister-in-law, Violet Schaeffer; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lucille and Joe Hofer; brother-in-law, Earl Nysven; numerous nieces, nephews and special friends. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Violet Bauder; in-laws, Ephriam and Evelyn Schaeffer; grandson, Cole Nelson; brother-in-law, Allen Schaeffer and sister-in-law, Judy Nysven.