Melitta Meurice Schaffner

Melitta Meurice Schaffner, 85, died Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, at Lake Winona Manor in Winona, Minnesota. She was born on April 7, 1940, at home in the Town of Lincoln at Cream, Wisconsin to Harry and Helen (Korb) Marks.

She attended Oak Grove Grade School and graduated from Gilmanton High School in 1958.

On September 21, 1963, she married Edwin M. Schaffner. They were married 39 years before Edwin passed away in 2002. They operated a dairy farm for 35 years.

Melitta loved her cows and could recite each cow’s pedigree. She was very involved with showing livestock at the local fairs. She attended the Buffalo County Fair each year since she was eight years old. That’s when she joined 4-H and was very active all those years. In 1959, she was on the Buffalo County State Champion Dairy Judging Team.

Melitta enjoyed attending Gilmanton basketball games and playing 500 and Sheepshead with friends. For over ten years, she led Bingo at the Gilmanton Café. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and was very active in the Dorcas Ladies Aid until her health declined.

Survivors include her son: Richard (Dick) Schaffner; sisters: Lila (James) Nelson, Judith Herold, and Karen (Bill) Owen; nieces and nephews. Sisters-in-law: Carol Christopher, Joan Fetting, Marjorie Kammueller, Janet (Ronald) Fetting. Brother-in-law, Michael (Barbara) Schaffner. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Edwin), mother and father-in-law, and brothers-in-law: Marvin Mork, Vilas Herold, Russell Fetting, William Kammueller, and John Christopher.

A special Thank You to the hospice staff and nurses of the Lake Winona Manor. Also, a nice Thank You to her niece Donna, and neighbors Ronnie and Jenny for care and support getting her to the hospital for appointments and a little home healthcare.

A memorial gathering will be at Talbot Family Funeral Home in Mondovi on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM.

Talbot Family Funeral Homes of Mondovi assisted the family. www.talbotfuneralhomes.com