Ringgold County Recorder/Register Karen Schaefer has announced she will not seek re-election for her post in the upcoming
November elections.Schaefer has served four terms a county recorder. She began working in the recorder's office on
June 26, 1989 as deputy recorder under Carol Weeda. When Weeda stepped down, Schaefer won the recorder's post in the
November 1998 election and assumed office on January 1, 1999.
Schaefer noted while some of her duties have changed over
the years, others have remained constant as they have been for many years. Office personnel still record documents by
hand using black ink and archival paper. When records became computerized in 1991, the recorder's office added the
responsibility for maintaining records on the Internet as well as in the office.
In 1996 Iowa county recorders became the passport
agents, and the following year they assumed reponsibility for the county's vital records, including birth, marriages
and deaths. Licensing of various recreational vehicles has also been added to the recorder's duties.
Despite all the
changes, Schaefer said she will miss her job as county recorder. "[Retirement] was a tough decision," she said. "I still
enjoy the work. I guess it's a good time to leave when you still enjoy it."
She said she will miss interactions with the
public as well as the camaraderie of the other courthouse staff.
Schaefer especially wanted to recognize the two deputy
recorders who have served with her during her four terms. Tara Lynch serve as deputy recorder from January 1, 1999 through
August 2003 when she transferred to the assessors' office. From that time Kisha Martin has served as deputy recorder from
September 8, 2003 through the end of Schaefer's term December 31, 2014.
She will also miss the close-knit group of
fellow county recorders from across the state who are members of the Iowa County Recorders Association. "You could say
we have a friend in every county," she said. She said she still shares a room at state meeting with the Jones county
recorder who took office in 1999.
Schaefer said she plans to travel and spend more time with her family, including her
husband Mike, their three children and nine grandchildren.
She advises the incoming recorder to be prepared to help the
public find answers to their questions regarding genealogy, real estate transactions and many other legal matters.
"We're the custodians of the records," she said, in reference to the written documents dating back to 1855 that
are stored in her office vault.
"I've been proud to serve the county as recorder for these years," she concluded. "I hope
I've upheld the integrity of the office that's been in existence since 1855."
Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014
Ringgold County Recorder/Register Karen Schaefer has announced she will not seek re-election for her post in the upcoming
November elections.
