Grace was called to her eternal rest Tuesday morning, Oct. 15, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minn. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, at Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont, and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com

Grace Doris Freitag was born July 24, 1922, in rural Sherburn, Minn., to Theodore and Emma (Sinn) Freitag. She received her education in rural country school. Grace then was employed at the Fairmont Community Hospital for over 40 years. In 1944, she was united in marriage to Robert Schafer. After their marriage they lived in Fairmont until moving to a farm near Sherburn. In 1958 they moved back to Fairmont. Robert died in 1973. On Feb. 7, 1975, she was united in marriage to Leonard Carlson in Santa Cruz, Calif. After their marriage they lived in Fairmont. Leonard died Nov. 18, 1978. Grace continued to live in Fairmont until moving to Mankato to be near her son, Jerry. Grace was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont. She enjoyed watching birds and collecting glass birds, especially Cardinals. She could be found in her garden or baking or cooking or reading her newspaper. She is survived by her children: sons, Gerald “Jerry” (Remy) Schafer of North Mankato, Minn., Dennis (Susan) Schafer of Bartlett, Tenn., Douglas (Nada) Schafer of Springfield, Mo.; daughter, Nancy (Stan) Arneson of Aledo, Texas; stepsons, Robert “Bob” (Angie) Carlson of rural Sherburn, Wayne (Judy) Carlson of Elk Grove, Calif., and Donovan (Trudy) Carlson of Scotts Valley, Calif.; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Dona (LeRoy) Opsal of Armstrong, Iowa, Lois Peterson of Indianapolis, Ind., and Norma Benson of LaCresant, Minn.; nieces, nephews and other relatives. Grace was preceded in death by infant son, Thomas Gene Schafer; her parents; husbands, Robert Schafer and Leonard Carlson; sisters, Verlie (Isiah) Williamson, Helen (Lynn) Lambert, Beulah Weber, Mavis (Donald) Becker; sister-in-law, Helen (Marshall) Freitag; brother, Marshall (Helen) Freitag; brothers-in-law, Isiah (Verlie) Williamson, Lynn (Helen) Lambert, Donald (Mavis) Becker, Jay (Lois) Peterson and other relatives.

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