Mervin A. Schaaf
January 24, 1916 — December 16, 2011
Mervin Arthur Schaaf was born on January 24, 1916, on his grandfather Karstens farm northwest of Corley, Iowa, to Arthur and Alma (Karstens) Schaaf . He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa, and remained a lifelong member there.
On August 28, 1943, he was united in marriage to Noyon Chandler. They were the parents of two children, Douglas and Janelle. He operated a hog operation until he retired in 1980.
Mervin served on the church council at Trinity for a number of years. In 1962, when he was president of the first Lutheran Church, he was very active in the promotion of the merger of the German and Danish congregations and the origin of the now Trinity Lutheran Church.
He was a fifty-year member of the Avoca Masonic Lodge and was one of its past Masters. He was also a member of both the York and Scottish rite bodies and a member of the Tanger Shrine and the Botna Valley Shrine Clubs. He was active in the promotion of the merger of the Hancock and Avoca school districts and served on the first Board of Directors for twelve years. He was a sponsor and chaperone for twenty-five years to bring the second grade Hancock-Avoca school children to the Shrine Circus.
Mervin served for ten years on the East Pottawattamie County A.S.C.S. Committee and served a three-year term on the Pottawattamie County Farmers Home Administration Board and worked as an adjuster for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for five years. He also served a five-year term on the first Pottawattamie County Compensation Board.
He served as a director at the Avoca Golf and Country Club and was a member of the Avoca Rotary Club. He enjoyed collecting old pictures and documents and spent much of his adult life doing research on local history in the Avoca area.
Mervin died on Friday, December 16, 2011 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-five years, ten months, and twenty-two days. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Noyon, daughter Janelle Gilliland and brother Laverne Schaaf.
He is survived by his son Doug Schaaf and his wife Judy of Seattle, Washington; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; son-in-law John Gilliland of Harlan, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Pastor Dennis Reich officiated the 11:00 AM funeral service on Friday, January 6, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. Shirley Pattee provided music. Serving as casket bearers were Adam Caraher, John Gilliand, Christian Soll, Brent Soll, Nick Soll, and Daniel Soll. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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On August 28, 1943, he was united in marriage to Noyon Chandler. They were the parents of two children, Douglas and Janelle. He operated a hog operation until he retired in 1980.
Mervin served on the church council at Trinity for a number of years. In 1962, when he was president of the first Lutheran Church, he was very active in the promotion of the merger of the German and Danish congregations and the origin of the now Trinity Lutheran Church.
He was a fifty-year member of the Avoca Masonic Lodge and was one of its past Masters. He was also a member of both the York and Scottish rite bodies and a member of the Tanger Shrine and the Botna Valley Shrine Clubs. He was active in the promotion of the merger of the Hancock and Avoca school districts and served on the first Board of Directors for twelve years. He was a sponsor and chaperone for twenty-five years to bring the second grade Hancock-Avoca school children to the Shrine Circus.
Mervin served for ten years on the East Pottawattamie County A.S.C.S. Committee and served a three-year term on the Pottawattamie County Farmers Home Administration Board and worked as an adjuster for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation for five years. He also served a five-year term on the first Pottawattamie County Compensation Board.
He served as a director at the Avoca Golf and Country Club and was a member of the Avoca Rotary Club. He enjoyed collecting old pictures and documents and spent much of his adult life doing research on local history in the Avoca area.
Mervin died on Friday, December 16, 2011 at Elm Crest Retirement Home in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-five years, ten months, and twenty-two days. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Noyon, daughter Janelle Gilliland and brother Laverne Schaaf.
He is survived by his son Doug Schaaf and his wife Judy of Seattle, Washington; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; son-in-law John Gilliland of Harlan, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Pastor Dennis Reich officiated the 11:00 AM funeral service on Friday, January 6, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. Shirley Pattee provided music. Serving as casket bearers were Adam Caraher, John Gilliand, Christian Soll, Brent Soll, Nick Soll, and Daniel Soll. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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