Lola "Bonnie" Schafer

Lola “Bonnie” Schafer, 86, of La Crosse, died on Tuesday May 12, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Lacrosse. She was born on February 3, 1929 in Dresbach MN to John and Verna (Jenks) Kramer. She married Carl B. Gerke on December 30, 1946. A few years after marriage, they moved to Marin County California where she worked as a seamstress making sails and gowns for the Portuguese parade. Following Carl’s death, she moved back to Onalaska and operated Hunters Lodge on Brice’s Prairie. In 1970, she married William Schafer. She worked for many years as a cook for the Onalaska school district.
Lola enjoyed numerous activities including crafts, baking, cooking and spending time with her family (picnics, sand bars, and breakfast in the park). She was a member of the Moose Lodge of La Crosse and Catholic Daughters of Novato, CA.
She is survived by her children, Rebecca Stackhouse, Carl B. (Jennifer) Gerke, Mike (Ruth) Gerke, daughter-in-law Penny Schafer; siblings, Elmer (Alice) Kramer, Harold (Margaret) Kramer, and Lilah (Walter) Bartz; grandchildren, Tyson (Stacey) Stackhouse, Jason (Brigitte) Stackhouse, Veronica Gerke, James Gerke, Carlie Gerke, Kelsey Gerke, Jesse Schafer, Cassie Schafer; great grandchildren Zach Stackhouse, Chris Stackhouse, Makayla Stackhouse, Brandon Stackhouse, Kaylee Stackhouse, Carter Stackhouse, Parker Stackhouse and Ava Adamson and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husbands Carl Gerke and William Schafer; her son William Schafer; siblings Olive (Sparky) Hoffmann, Joy (Gordon) Charles, and Irvin Kramer.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday May 16, 2015 at 11:30 AM at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse. Msgr. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Burial will be in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services.