In Memory
Donald Alan Schaaf, age 83, of McCook, passed away Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, surrounded by his family at his home in McCook. Don entered this life at the old St. Catherine Hospital, McCook, Neb., on Feb. 5, 1937. He was the first of four children of Myron Donald and Esther Wilhelmina (Noetzlemann) Schaaf. Donald grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1955. After graduating, Don attended The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Ill. After the Art Institute, he married Mary Kathleen Drain at a church ceremony at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chicago on May 30, 1959. To this union two children were born, Lorraine Anne and Lisa Diane. Don served in the United States Army as a Radio Intercept Operator and was honorably discharged Jan. 7, 1963. Don and Kathy and children returned to Chicago, where Donald was employed by J. Walter Thompson Advertising as an art director of experimental films; The Film Makers Inc. as director of television commercials, post-production editing; and at D’Arcy/McManus Advertising as vice president and executive art director and producer for television commercials. He and Kathy returned to McCook in 1972, where Don was employed by radio station KBRL as a broadcaster and then the McCook Daily Gazette as a reporter, photographer and editorial cartoonist. Later he was the senior probation officer for the State of Nebraska until retirement in 1998. Don was an artist all his life, working with oils, acrylics and other types of media. Upon retirement, Donald lived in McCook, where he spent his time with oil and digital painting and computers. Preceding Don in death were his parents, Myron and Esther Schaaf; brother, Stephen; sister, Theresa; and his father and mother in-in-law, Herbert and Lynn Drain. Those left to celebrate his life include his wife of 61 years, Kathy Schaaf of McCook; children, Lorraine (Schaaf) Sughroue of McCook and Lisa (Schaaf) Lee (John) of Loveland, Colo.; six grandchildren: Naomi Sughroue of Chadron, Neb., Jessa Sughroue of LaVista, Neb., Molly Sughroue of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Trenton Frederick of Benkelman, Neb., Noaa Frederick of Globe, Ariz., and Darby Frederick of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his sister, Monica (Schaaf) Miller and her husband, Bob of Salem, Ore.; nieces and nephews and other family members. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at St. Patrick Catholic Church of McCook with Father Gary Brethour celebrating. Inurnment will follow in St. Patrick Calvary Cemetery in McCook with Military Honors.
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