Elmer J. Schiffer

Elmer J. Schiffer, 99, of Key West and formerly of LaMotte passed away Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Stonehill Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Saint Joseph Church, Key West with Fr. Rod Allers officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery in La Motte with military honors accorded by the American Legion Post #6. Friends may call from 3 to 8 Tuesday April 10, 2018 at the Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory 2595 Rockdale where a parish wake service will be held at 3 pm.

Elmer was born on December 11, 1918 in South Dakota the son of Henry and Ludwina (Bertsch) Schiffer. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II in Africa and in Italy. He was honored while on leave in Italy to be able to attend mass with the Pope. He returned to LaMotte and on October 5, 1949 he married Marcella “Sally” Pitts at Holy Rosary Church, together they farmed and raised their family in LaMotte until retirement and moving to Key West in 2000. He was a member if the LaMotte-Key West Knights of Columbus, the Farm Bureau, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, where he received many production awards.

Farming was always in his blood and he could often be found riding his Farmall M around Key West. He also enjoyed going to dances with Sally and playing cards. If you asked Elmer if he had a good life, the answer you would get is “you bet”.

He is survived by his wife Marcella “Sally”;  three children Gary (Lisa) Schiffer, of LaMotte, Don (Jeanie) Schiffer, of Dubuque, and Sherrie (Gary) Witter, of Marion, Iowa; a daughter-in-law Angel Schiffer, of Maquoketa; 15 grandchildren Michelle, Ryan, Chad, Brian, Nick, Wyatt, Levi, Kyle, Jenny, Sarah, Shelby, Thomas, Andrew, Brian, Amy, and Tammy; many great grandchildren; and two sisters Marie Wieland of Dubuque and JoAnn Meyer of Bernard; sister’s-in-law Phyllis Schiffer and Leona Schiffer

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son Jim and siblings Charlie, Alvin, Walter, Vic, Henry, Loretta, Ella, and Hazel.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and the nurses and staff of Stonehill Care Center for all the great care they gave to Elmer.

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