Jake Schaal-544

Funeral services for Jake Schaal were Friday, Sept 12, 1986, at the Hope Congregational Church, north of Burlington and Bethune with Dr.  Albert Wetzel officiating.   The Men's Choir served as singers for the services, with Velda Adolf being the organist.  Song selections included "Resting Now" and "Going Down the Valley".  Casket bearers were Arnold Strobel, Lawrence Knodel, Rudy Schaal, Clyde Schaal, Leland Strobel, and Art Strobel.  Honorary casket bearers were Mark Schaal, Dwight Schaal and Jim Schaal.  Burial was in Hope Cemetery with Hendricks Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Jacob (Jake) Schaal was born on Jan. 4, 1897, at Yale to Samuel and Rosina (Schmidke) Schaal.  He was baptized on Feb. 28, 1897, in Gemeinde Friedensfeld by Pastor Gerhard Janssen.  He was confirmed on April 5, 1912, in the Immanuel Lutheran Church by pastor M.P. Jensen.  He enlisted in the United States Army on Aug. 27, 1918, and served in Camp Lewis, Washing., as a field hospital medic, in the Field Hospital Company NO. 252 of the 13th Sanitary Train Regiment.  He was honorable discharged on April 5, 1919, as Private First Class from Ft. D.A. Russell, Wyo.  He married Emma Magdalena Strobel on June 26, 1921, in the first wooden frame edific of the present day Hope United Church of Christ, by Rev. Karl H. Haemmelmann.  To this union were born two sons, Theodore (Ted) B. Schaal and Herbert (Herb) R. Schaal.  Since land was no longer available for homesteading, he purchased some land north of Burlington, where he and his family enjoyed farming and taking care of cattle and livestock.  His wife, Emma was fatally burned by a household fuel explosion on Oct. 13, 1936, and passed away at about 10 p.m. that same evening.  Ted was 14 years old and Herb was 7 years old at the time of their mother's death.  Jake never remarried and cared for his two sons.

When his son Herb and his wife Doris were missionaries in Argentina, South America, Jake and Rev. Abraham Brenning went to Argentina and he spent six months there.  In February of 1975 he became an invalid due to a pinched nerve in his back and could no longer walk.  His children took care of him for three years and then had to put him in a rest home in Lodi, Calif. for nine months, then to Grace Manor in Burlington for eight years where he passed away on Sept. 8 1986, at the age of 89 years, 8 months and 4 days.  Jake was preceded in death by his mother Rosina (Schmidke) Schaal when he was only 18 months old.  Also preceding him in death was his wife, Emma, in 1936, his father Samuel, in 1959, his stepmother, Dorothea (Bauder) Schaal in 1964, five brothers, John, Fred, Carl, Rudolf and George and one sister, Louise (Schaal) Holems.  Surviving Jake are his two sons, Ted and his wife Elma of Burlington, Herb and his wife Doris of Sacramento, Calif.  Six grandchildren -- Geneva Hudson, Clyde and his wife Teresa, Mark and his wife Tanya, Dwight and his wife Karen, Patty and Jim Schaal.  Eight grandchildren -- Babette, Justin, Brian, Craig, Braden, Sanya, Adam and Sophia.  One brother, Same, and two sisters, Helen Knodel and Dorothea Schlichenmayer, and many loved ones and friends.