Betty Clara Hafemann, age 90, of Iola, passed away on Wednesday, August 12th, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.
She was born in Racine on February 25, 1925 to LeRoy C. “Chip” and Clara (Jacoby) Chapek. She grew up on Hamilton Street in Racine, WI in a trio of two-story brick cold water flats surrounded by extended family called Jacobyville. Betty graduated from Wm. Horlick High School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The day of college graduation, June 19, 1948, she married R. John Hafemann and honeymooned in the presidential suite of the not yet opened Edgewater Hotel. Early married life was an adventure in moving, with stops in Madison, Milwaukee, Morrison, Spooner and Brillion, where sons, Lee A. and Michael J. were born. During 12 years in West Bend, Patricia C. joined the family. Later, after three years in Concord, NH, Betty created a home in a tent for a summer. She moved to Scandinavia/Iola in 1973. She worked at the UW-Stevens Point Library for 16 years and made many lifetime friends. Betty was an active 42 year member of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church. She was recruited by the Iola Garden Club while she was still a “Bender”. She won many prizes and could make a small bowl of pine cones an elegant construction. She and Tricia created a marvelous garden on McKinley Street. Betty was a 29 year Iola Village Library Board Member and volunteer and a Mystery Luncheon participant. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and shareholder. Betty lived sincerely without guile or rancor, and encouraged her children to live gently and reasonably. She was the best Mom and Grandma any child could hope for.
Betty is survived by children: Lee Hafemann, La Crosse, WI; Michael (Janet) Hafemann, Amherst, WI; Patricia (Jerome) Lund, Madison, WI; grandchildren: Hannah (Fritz) Dolata Kollmann, Larissa (Luke) Sparhawk, Jeffrey and Ellen Lund, Lola (Dina) Dvorak, Megan and James Larson, Luke Jensen, Laura (Jake) Jensen-Roloff, Katherine Hafemann; great-grandchildren, Azia Dolata Kollmann, Etta Rose Dvorak; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Chapek, Ruth Chapek; and brother-in-law, Richard Kizewic. She is further survived by nieces, nephews and cousins and a host of special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband – R. John Hafemann, brothers – Charles and William Chapek and her sister – Shirley Kizewic.
Funeral Services for Betty will be held at Shepherd of the Lakes Church in Waupaca at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15th with Rev. Mary Bope officiating. Interment will be in Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Scandinavia, Waupaca Co., WI. Relatives and friends will meet with the family on Saturday, from 12:00 (noon) until the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Iola Village Library, P.O. Box 336, Iola, WI 54945. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.