Ellen Mae Schiefer

Ellen Mae "Ellie" Schiefer, 86, of rural Bucyrus, passed peacefully Thursday, September 17, 2020 at her home in the presence of family.



She was born April 8, 1934 in Holmes Twp. Bucyrus, Ohio to the late Charles J. and Helen (Neff) Spiegel. Ellie was a 1952 graduate of Holmes Liberty High School and went on to graduate from Bowling Green State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in home economics education and her master’s in school guidance. Ellie married her next-door neighbor, Norman M. Schiefer, on February 12, 1956, sharing 63 years of life and love before his passing on August 21, 2019.



Ellie lived to help others achieve their goals in life. She did this as an educator, teaching Home Economics at Sulphur Springs High School, Mohawk High School, and Wynford High School. She concluded her 27-years in education as the Guidance Counselor at Wynford High School and did this for eight years of her career.



Ellie grew up and was married in Scioto UMC. She and Norm became active in Grace UMC and when Grace closed, they returned to their home church. Ellie had served as the secretary at Grace for several years, taught Sunday School, but was especially proud to have been one of the founding members of Stephen Ministry, a program designed to help individuals faced with challenges. She was a member of the New Era Club; was the first Director of Crawford County Children and Family First; and while teaching, served as an advisor for the Future Homemakers of America at Wynford as well as a class advisor, working on several Junior/Senior proms.



Ellie cherished time spent with family and a hug was a requirement upon arrival and departure. She played many games with her grandchildren and spoiled them during “Summer Week” which occurred annually over many years. She looked forward to her Sunday telephone calls from her son, Tom and always shared the conversation when chatting with her other son, John. Ellie and Norm looked forward to their monthly “Neighborhood Card Club” and shared many laughs while dealing many hands of euchre.



Ellie enjoyed doing calligraphy and in fact took a class at BGSU. This hobby led to the formation of VanEllyn Creations; a crafting business where she and her daughter-in-law would sell their Scherenschnitte paper cutting creations at shows during the Bratwurst Festival, Sauder Farms, and other craft shows. She also enjoyed reading, cooking, making greeting cards, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, and needlepoint. Her family will always remember their feed sack aprons provided by her and Norm and appreciated their matriarch who always helped them achieve their goals.



She will be deeply missed by her two sons, Thomas (Julie) Schiefer of Nappanee, Indiana and John (Vanessa) Schiefer of Bucyrus; five grandchildren, Kimberly Bell, Andrew (Kristin) Schiefer, Bethel (Andrew) Burton, Marciena (Jeremy) Maglott, and Laura (Aaron) Penhorwood; 11 great grandchildren, Kaitlyn & Nathaniel Bell, Preston & Olivia Schiefer, Abigail, Ruth, & Lydia Burton, Kaiden, Karson, & Brycen Maglott, and Kyle Penhorwood; one expected great granddaughter in November; sisters-in-law, Gerlinde (Rex) Embrey, Barb Spiegel, Karen (Don) Scott, and Marian (Larry) Vance; brother-in-law, Allan Schiefer; six nieces and seven nephews; as well as her two caregivers, Connie Church and Kristal Ash who provided much love to Ellie.



In addition to her parents and husband, Ellie was preceded in death by brothers, Kenneth and Glenn Spiegel and sisters-in-law, Faye Spiegel and Sandy Schiefer.



The Schiefer family will receive friends on Sunday, September 20 from 3-8 pm at the Bucyrus UMC Worship Center, 227 S. Walnut St., where Ellie’s funeral will be held on Monday at 10:30 am with Pastors Tom Schiefer and Bill Sowers officiating. Burial will follow in Brokensword Cemetery.



Donations can be made payable to either Wynford Academic Boosters or Scioto UMC and these gifts will be accepted through Wise Funeral Service or at the church on the day of services. Memories are encouraged to be shared on her Tribute Wall.