Darlene Schafer

Darlene J. Schafer, 82, of Council Bluffs, IA and formerly of Mission, TX, passed away at
home on January 12, 2026 from the effects of a malignant brain tumor, diagnosed in June
2025.
Darlene Jewel Johnson was born on July 24, 1943 and was the seventh of ten children born
to George J. and Mamie E. (Stolnack) Johnson. George and Mamie leased ranches in Butte
and Harding counties until purchasing the Brady place north of Castle Rock, SD in 1946.
Darlene was born while the Johnsons lived on the Larson place north of Camp Crook, SD.
Darlene attended country school at the Crow Butte school near the family ranch north of
Castle Rock and graduated from Belle Fourche High School with the Class of 1961. She
earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of South Dakota, graduating in
1965, and a Master of Science degree in Art from Texas A&I University at Kingsville,
graduating in 1991.
Darlene was united in marriage to William G. Schafer of East Meadow, New York on July
25, 1969 in Rapid City, SD. Bill was a Captain in the United States Air Force and stationed at
Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City. Bill and Darlene adopted two children to
complete their family, including Mindi Susan in 1974 and James Andrew in 1976.
Darlene was a dedicated Art teacher to students at independent school districts in four
states, including Rapid City, South Dakota (1967-1971), Harvard, Illinois (1971-1974),
Lebanon, Missouri (1974-1986), and McAllen, Texas (from 1986 until her retirement in the
Spring of 2000). She also taught American and Texas history during her tenure at McAllen
ISD.
Bill and Darlene continued to live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas after Darlene's
retirement. Bill sadly passed away on January 27, 2004 after a short bout with cancer.
Thankfully, Darlene's sister, Beverly, and her husband, Douglas Miller, had moved to
Mission in 2003 to live near Darlene and Bill. In the past 22 years, Beverly and Darlene
enjoyed many wonderful times together, just as they had in their adolescent years on the
South Dakota prairie.
Darlene enjoyed domestic and foreign travel, often with members of the Johnson family,
visiting six of the seven continents. She was an avid bowler and participated in many state
and national bowling tournaments. The national bowling tournament was a special event
due to participating with six of her sisters. Darlene was also an enthusiastic golfer and a
keen Bridge player. She made dear friends in all of the activities she enjoyed during her
retirement years.
Declining health forced Darlene to move Council Bluffs, IA to live with her daughter and
son-in-law in August 2025.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, William G. Schafer; her parents, George J.
and Mamie E. Johnson; six siblings and spouses, including Betty J. (John) Niemi, Doris H.
Johnson, G. Douglas (Patricia) Johnson, Andrew W. Johnson, Marilyn M. (Arnold, Jr.)
Schmidt, and Judith G. Johnson; other brothers-in-law, including Douglas L. Miller and
Roger D. Reynolds; niece, Teryl Johnson McGriff; and Schafer family members.
Darlene is survived by her daughter, Mindi (Jeff Locarino) of Council Bluffs, IA; her son,
James, of Dallas, TX; four grandchildren, including Kaitlyn Schach (fiance, Matt), Cody
(Hunter) Schach, Zachary Lopez, and Ethan Schafer; three sisters, one brother-in-law, and
one sister in-law, including Beverly J. Miller of Mission, TX; Arlene J. Reynolds of Rapid
City, SD; Ida L. (Mel) Johnson of Apple Valley, MN; and Linda Johnson of Sturgis, SD.
Other survivors include special cousins, Annitta Stolnack of Newell, SD and Janet Hardy of
Largo, FL, and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were under the care of Forest Lawn Funeral Home of Omaha.