Ernest “Ernie” Schofield, 71, of Riceville, IA, died on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN.
A memorial service for Ernie will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at the McIntire Methodist Church in McIntire, IA with Dr. Donna Ihns and Pete Fehr officiating. Ernie will be laid to rest at Wayne Cemetery. A wake will be held from 4-6 p.m. Friday, June 28th at the church and will continue from 1:00-1:45 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a “Safety Meeting” held after the burial at Goosey’s Bar & Grill in McIntire.
And on the 8th day, Ernest Kristian Schofield was born to Orville and Connie (Kristiansen) Schofield on March 5th, 1953 in Riceville, Iowa. He started farming as soon as he could touch the pedals on a tractor. He rented his first farm when he was 12 years old, the first big move into the lifestyle he loved so dearly. During his childhood, he and his parents made many trips to the gorgeous lakes of Canada to fish, telling stories from these trips until he passed. He cherished those times so dearly. He graduated from Riceville High School in 1971 and attended one year at Kirkwood Community College. He then went back to farming, taking motorcycle and fishing trips with friends and family between rounds in the fields.
In the early 1980’s he began trucking part-time with Armstrongs in McIntire. He married his wife of 34 years, Karen (Gaffey) on August 19, 1989, at the McIntire United Methodist Church. A few years later, they started working on their dream home. They created their own planned paradise to live and work. Then in 1997, they had their daughter, Kristian, filling their home. He continued to farm, routinely putting in his 40-hour work week by Tuesday noon. Knowing that it was time to start dealing with the wear and tear of his life’s work he retired in 2016, giving himself a new job; to guide the next generation of young farmers to their lifestyle of stewardship and dedication. He saved the FFA program, helped whoever needed it, and always finished a hard week’s work with the drive to church. He was exactly what God envisioned when he said “I need a caretaker”. On Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, he lost his hard-fought battle with cancer surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife Karen and daughter Kristian of McIntire, Sister and Brother-in-Law, Sharon and Keith Johnson of Madrid, IA, their children; Michelle (Ned) Burmeister of Des Moines, IA, Darren (Kim) Johnson of Polk City, IA, and their families. Karen’s Siblings (spouses; children); Mike, Paula (Larry; Christina, James, William), Dennis (Deb; Leslie, Paul), Maureen, Theresa (son, Thomas), and Brian. Along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Connie Schofield, Karen’s parents, Paul and Roberta Gaffey, Brother-in-laws Thomas Gaffey, and Mark Gaffey, Sister-in-law Sue (Mike) Gaffey, nephews Ryan Gaffey and Sean Gaffey, and cousins Mary (Suzanne) Grace, Jerry (Charles Orr) Sprung, and Kenny Sprung.
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