Elsie Ione (Leach) Schafer

Elsie Ione Schafer, age 79, of Storm Lake, IA formerly of Canova, SD, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, IA. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday March 30, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm with the family present at Methodist Manor, lower level (lake view activity room).

Elsie was born on June 24, 1945 in Madison, SD to Frank Show Leach and Elsie Elizabeth (Young) Leach. She lived in Oldham, SD for a short time as a child the moved to Madison, SD where she attended school and graduated in 1963.  She lived in Fort Worth, TX for a short time until she came back to South Dakota to marry James Robert Schafer on May 1, 1971.

Elsie worked as a cook for many years.  She and Jim ran the Canova Café for a few years.  She also worked in Madison at the Arctic Cat where she installed decals on snowmobiles.  She worked at the One Stop in Madison and Nearly New in Howard. They lived on a farm near Canova until 1994 when they moved into town (Canova).  They moved to Storm Lake, IA in 2016.

Elsie was a member of the Canova American Legion Auxiliary. She was an avid reader and loved mysteries as well as True Crime TV shows.  One of Elsie’s favorite hobbies was stopping in to the Howard Corner Pantry for a Diet Pepsi, and conversation with friends.

Elsie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jim, of Methodist Manor, Storm Lake, IA; daughter, April Holm of Storm Lake, IA; daughter, Misty Schultz-McCoy (Dan McCoy) of Longmont, CO; grandsons, Logan (Savannah) Schafer of Holstein, IA. Bryce Schultz of Longmont, CO. Lincoln Schultz of Longmont, CO and Levi Holm of Storm Lake, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Elsie Leach; sisters Martha Hegdahl and Fancheon Sheldon; brother, Frank “Buddy” Leach; son-in-law, David Schultz; grandson, LCPL Riley Schultz; and bonus grandson, Joshua Fowler.