CHARLES “CHARLIE” GOODNER SCHAAF, age 96, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at The Ambassador Retirement Facility in Sidney, IA. Charlie was born July 15, 1922 in Prairie Township, IA to Charles Frederick Schaaf, Sr. and Julia Mae (Goodner) Schaaf. Charlie grew up in Fremont County where he attended Brightside and Anderson schools and graduated from Sidney High School in 1939. He married Mary A. Leech in Hastings, NE on her birthday on January 24, 1945. At that time, Charlie was stationed in the U.S. Navy where he served from 1942-1946 as a machinist’s mate First Class on the U.S.S. Nashville.

Charlie was a past Commander of the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post No. 128 and volunteered at the Sidney Rodeo for 64 years. He was an active member of the VFW, Mason’s, and was a volunteer for the Sidney Fire and Rescue squad. He attended the Methodist and United Faith Churches in Sidney for more than 60 years.

Charlie enjoyed sports, especially bowling, golf, and watching his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed collecting keys, coins, newspaper articles, and license plates. Charlie liked everyone and always had a smile on his face. In later years, he enjoyed morning discussions of politics, news, crop prices, and other topics at Penn Drug. He always believed that if it wasn’t discussed at Penn’s, then it really wasn’t important!

Above all things, Charlie loved farming and his family. He and Mary farmed his Father’s farm 4 miles north of Sidney following WWII until 1991. For Charlie, farming was a way of life, a sense of pride, and a family affair. There was no place he would have rather worked. Charlie loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He attended their birthday parties, school functions, and sporting events when possible. His whole family believed “There was no one like Grandpa Charlie!”

Charlie was preceded in death by his wife Mary; his parents, his sister JoAnn Goodner Debolt; and his son-in-law Michael Thurston. He is survived by his daughter, Debbie Thurston of Omaha, NE; son, Larry Schaaf and his wife Lois of Lewis Center, OH; 5 grandchildren, Brian Schaaf and wife Sharon of Cincinnati, OH, Stephen Schaaf and wife Nicole of Pittsburgh, PA, Jodi Esser and husband Jarrod of Omaha, NE, Kayla Travis and husband Mike of Arlington, NE, and Mitchell Thurston and wife Lindsay of Omaha; 8 great grandchildren, Paighton and Hunter Travis, Austin, Hayden, Carter and Gavin Schaaf, Lily Esser, and Evelyn Thurston; numerous nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the United Faith Church in Sidney, IA with Rev. Jan Phillips officiating. Visitation will be open after 5:00 PM Friday, and the family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday at the Crawford-Marshall Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in the Sidney, IA Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites by the Williams-Jobe- Gibson American Legion Post #128 of Sidney. Memorials will go to the Sidney United Faith Church or the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post. The Crawford-Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, IA is in charge of arrangements.

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