Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
from glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

As the lyrics of her favorite song, "Danny Boy," describe, the summer has gone and the roses have fallen. On September 1, 2012, the bloom of Isabel Rose Canet Schaefer did fall and our family's rose did go, and we must bide.

Rene and Jennie Canet's third child was born at their home south of Valentine, on September 25, 1922. She attended rural elementary schools and then Valentine High School for one year, transferring to the School of Agriculture in Curtis where she graduated in 1940.

After spending one year at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, she and her sister, Jennie, lived in Los Angeles and later returned to Valentine where they opened their own Beauty Shop.

On January 3, 1942, in front of that beauty shop, she met Clem Schaefer and in December of 1944, she and Clem became engaged. After Clem returned from the Navy, they were married on July 2, 1947, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. She joined the church in December of 1949 and from that moment on remained a very devout Catholic.

Clem and Isabel lived 65 years together in Valentine. It was here that they raised their four children.

The family enjoyed attending local ball games, activities at the Canet ranch and camping with friends south of Sparks on the Niobrara River. Clem and Isabel also enjoyed fishing and camping at Merritt with a multitude of family members joining them. Later years found them traveling south to warmer climates in their motorhome.

Isabel was a member of the Altar Society, PTA, VFW Auxiliary and the Hospital Pink Ladies. She was also appointed to the Cherry County Mental Health Board and served as a bailiff for the District Court.


Isabel introduced unique foods to family and friends. There were green tomato pies, potato-water glazed donuts, artichokes, lasagna, homemade onion rings, head cheese, homemade root beer and, always, homemade bread on the table. Isabel had a variety of interest, including crafts and collecting coins, tea cups, porcelain plates, and especially The Lone Wolf pictures. She loved playing bridge with dear, treasured friends.

Isabel is survived by her husband, Clem, and their four children: Betty Quick (Roger); Kenneth Schaefer (Paula); Shirley Knudsen (Ron); and Janice Satra (Steve). Eight grandchildren: Todd Schaefer, Amy Ramsey, Aaron Quick, Natalie Lien, Bethany Knudsen, Kelsey, Krista and Shanna Satra. They will miss her chocolate chip cookies and her favorite saying, "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck and a Hug Around the Neck," and six great grandchildren (Jake, Colin and Abby Schaefer and Ena, Finn and Ruby Ramsey) will wish they had been able to hear her say that the current time is "Half Past Kissing Time and Time to Kiss Again." Numerous brothers- in law and sisters-in law and nieces and nephews complete the family circle that was the essence of Isabel's life.

Isabel passed away at the Pineview Good Samaritan Center on September 1, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rene Augusta and Jennie Lovejoy Canet, brother Rene Chalmers Canet and sister Jennie Canet Donovan.

While the last line of Danny Boy sings "And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me," we know that right now relatives, friends, dogs, and cats are joined in a happy, heavenly family reunion with cooking and bridge on the party's agenda…. Sleeping in peace will have to wait a bit.